Picture essay of the week: FODMAP testing

The Department of Gastroenterology has a world wide following for its low FODMAP diet as therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers. They have created a picture essay of how they go about testing their foods for #FODMAPs, which are various types of sugars, present in a huge variety of foods but to varying degrees.

On a FODMAP related issue, ABC Catalyst are broadcasting a show, "Gluten: A gut feeling", on Tuesday, 24 Nov 2015, featuring Professor Peter Gibson, Head of  Department, who has done widely cited research on so-called non coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). See reference for original article.

Welcome to Fulbright scholar, Mary Ajamian, in Dept of Gastroenterology

Ms Mary Ajamian, Fulbright scholar,
Department of Gastroenterology, CCS.
Photo: Alex Bogatyrev

Welcome to Mary Ajamian, a visiting Fulbright scholar from Columbia University, USA, being hosted by the Department of Gastroenterology.

Mary’s Fulbright project will investigate gluten and casein’s role in the neurobehavioral and extra-intestinal symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Mary will perform immunoassay-based experiments as well as analyze data from experimental dietary and drug interventions conducted by Dr. Peter Gibson, MD and Dr. Jane Muir, PhD ‘s team at Monash University Central Clinical School/The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Mary’s Fulbright experience will allow her to continue exorphins-related research that she started for her master’s thesis as well as connect two leading research groups at the forefront of characterizing an emerging disease entity.

Similar to the US, Australia experiences a deficit of women in STEM fields, especially at higher levels of academic or institutional seniority. Australian students of indigenous descent also experience difficulties. As part of her community engagement, Mary seeks to mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly female students and those of indigenous descent.

Mary can be contacted at mary.ajamian@gmail.com. 

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