Participants sought: Female volunteers wanted for study on endometriosis and IBS

Participants sought for endometriosis
and IBS study

Monash University is conducting a study to understand the causes of gastrointestinal symptoms in women with endometriosis.

A little background 

Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 Australian women and many of these women also suffer from IBS and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea). Currently, we do not know what causes the gastrointestinal symptoms associated with endometriosis.  

To express your interest, take the screening survey (via QR code) or see below for more detail and contact information. 

Participants sought: Dietary strategies to provide relief from gastrointestinal symptoms associated with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age. Common symptoms include pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. However, gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are also common, affecting up to 90% of patients. Diet is commonly used to manage these GI symptoms, but very little research has examined whether they are effective.

Participants are sought for our study, which will compare the effect of diet on GI symptoms associated with endometriosis. Participants are supplied with most meals and snacks for 2x28 day intervals and dietitian support provided.

The FODMAP diet is everywhere, but researchers warn it's not for weight loss

Low FODMAP foods, but quantity matters

by Dr Jane Varney, Department of Gastroenterology, Monash University, reproduced from The Conversation

The FODMAP diet is used to help manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but it’s becoming more popular. Now bloggers and so-called health gurus have jumped on board, claiming it can treat everything from acne to weight loss.

While it would be great if the diet did help to manage these hard-to-treat conditions, these claims are closer to science fiction than science.

2019 CCS teaching award for Dr Jane Varney

Dr Jane Varney

Congratulations to Dr Jane Varney for winning Central Clinical School's teacher innovation and impact award this year! Jane was the lead for innovative development of the Monash FODMAP online course for dietitians. It has already had 1200 enrolments from 66 countries and 300 graduations. The course has:

• High student satisfaction
• Strong enrolments driven by good reputation
• Reaching dietitians world-wide
• Connecting IBS patients with Monash FODMAP trained dietitians

See Jane's video describing how the course works.

The award is open to all CCS staff working to innovate in learning and teaching, whether academic or professional, individuals or teams. Enquiries to Professor Robyn Slattery, Robyn.Slattery@monash.edu.

FODMAP testing - what's involved

Mr Alex Bogatyrev, research scientist assisting with the analysis of FODMAPs in food

By Dr Jane Varney (Research Dietitian)

The Department of Gastroenterology at Monash University are leaders in the FODMAP analysis of foods. With over 10 years of experience performing this detailed analysis, we have a team of highly skilled staff and a laboratory equipped with state of the art equipment that enables us to provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive data regarding the FODMAP content of food. This article provides you with an abbreviated description of what is a laborious, expensive testing process, each food taking 2-4 weeks to analyse in our lab! See also the photo gallery.

Low FODMAP diet is only meant to be a short term intervention

Monash University Low FODMAP Diet: Low FODMAP diet – not a ‘lifetime’ diet:

Dr Jane Varney, a researcher in the Monash Department of Gastroenterology, explains about a common misunderstanding concerning the low FODMAP diet - namely, that it is a lifetime diet (similar to the strict gluten-free diet that individuals with coeliac disease must adhere to for life).  Well, she says, this is far from true. Read more.

Mythbusting non-coeliac gluten sensitivity

By Dr Jane Varney, Department of Gastroenterology.

The gluten-free diet is more popular among consumers now, than ever before, despite a scarcity of scientific evidence to suggest a benefit of excluding gluten in people without coeliac disease. Monash researchers have responded to this trend by measuring the effect of a gluten-free diet in people with IBS and so called, ‘non-coeliac gluten sensitivity’ (NCGS). Participants consumed a gluten-free, low FODMAP diet for two weeks and were then randomly assigned to one of three diets (high gluten, low gluten or zero gluten). While all participants experienced an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms on the initial low FODMAP diet, the study found that there were no independent, gluten-specific effects observed. The study calls the clinical diagnosis of NCGS into question and suggests that FODMAPs, not gluten, are the trigger of gastrointestinal symptoms in people with so-called, NCGS.

 

Reference: Biesiekierski, J. R., et al. (2013). "No effects of gluten in patients with self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity afterdietary reduction of fermentable, poorly absorbed, short-chain carbohydrates." Gastroenterology 145(2): 320-328 e321-323.

 

You can follow and subscribe to  FODMAP research updates and news from their blog, Low FODMAP Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome