GERD, IBS and the Low FODMAP Diet

It is common for more than one gastrointestinal (GI) disorder to develop in some individuals, whereby different disorders affect various sections of the GI tract. In some individuals, it may be just the lower GI tract that is affected. For example, an individual may have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or another may have IBS and coexisting celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Upper & Lower GI Issues

In other scenarios, both the upper and lower GI tract may develop symptoms, such as individuals who have co-existing IBS and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or overlapping GERD, IBS and functional dyspepsia (indigestion).

            YOU MAY WANT TO READ: SIBO: Get The Facts

Some studies estimate that among individuals with functional GI disorders (FGIDs) – which themselves have an estimated worldwide prevalence of about 20-40% of the population^2,3,4 — anywhere between 8-35% have one or more “overlapping” (multiple) FGIDs. ^2,3  This combination of gut disorders can increase the complexity of symptom management and reduce quality of life, leaving individuals to struggle with how best to manage myriad nutritional, pharmaceutical and lifestyle interventions.

GERD & IBS

The focus of this article is on the combination of GERD and IBS, as these are the two most frequent upper and lower GI disorders, and they often occur together. The global prevalence of IBS is estimated between 10-15% ^{5, 6} and the worldwide prevalence of GERD is between 13-25%^{7, 8}.

Definition & Treatment of GERD

GERD is a digestive disorder that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach that controls the flow of food and stomach contents.⁸

Individuals with GERD suffer from heartburn or acid indigestion caused by stomach acid and partially digested food moving upwards from the stomach into the esophagus instead of downward.

This movement, or reflux, occurs when the LES is weak and/or relaxes inappropriately. The LES can be weakened or influenced by a variety of factors, including certain foods or beverages, smoking, medications, pressure from excess body weight (including pregnancy) or a medical condition called hiatal hernia.⁸

A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper part of your stomach bulges through an opening in your diaphragm. Your diaphragm is the thin muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. Your diaphragm helps keep acid from coming up into your esophagus.

Most Common GERD Symptoms

The most common symptoms of GERD tend to be burning and discomfort in the stomach and throat, nausea, vomiting, coughing and belching, chest pain, difficulty swallowing and/or laryngitis. Additionally, new or worsening asthma can also be indicative of GERD.

Untreated, GERD can lead to vocal cord or esophageal damage, including Barrett’s esophagus and increased risk of esophageal cancer. Standard treatments for GERD include medications such as antacids, H2 blockers, prokinetics or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs); dietary or lifestyle changes; endoscopic therapy and surgery.⁹

IBS and GERD Together

While GERD affects the upper GI tract, IBS predominantly affects the lower GI tract, including the small and large intestines. However, the coexistence of the two disorders is where things can get complicated: pressure or symptoms from one area of the GI tract can influence or exacerbate symptoms in the other. For example:

• Lower abdominal gas, bloating and distention, resulting from incomplete digestion and subsequent fermentation of FODMAPs can increase pressure on the stomach and upper GI tract, worsening GERD symptoms such as nausea, belching and heartburn.
• Trapped gas and pressure from chronic constipation or excessive gas production in the small intestine from SIBO may also adversely affect GERD, albeit indirectly.
• Delayed gastric motility (the rate at which food moves through the GI tract) may also simultaneously affect both the upper and low GI tracts, as food languishes in the gut, causing increased IBS and GERD symptoms.

IBS & GERD: Complimentary Dietary Recommendations

The Low FODMAP Diet and GERD?

We know that the low FODMAP diet (LFD) is an effective treatment for IBS,^10,11 but it has not yet been conclusively shown to effectively treat GERD on its own. However, dietary and lifestyle recommendations for GERD often overlap with those for IBS, indicating that there may be some benefit to the LFD for individuals who struggle with both gut disorders.

For example, it is known that gut-irritating foods such as onions, garlic and spicy foods or beverages such as coffee or alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of both GERD and IBS. Lifestyle habits such as exercise, smoking and stress will also affect both disorders in positive or negative ways.

Additionally, some preliminary evidence has shown a connection between certain FODMAPS (fructose and fructans) and inappropriate LES relaxation (leading to reflux of stomach contents), indicating the possibility that reducing the intake of these FODMAPs may help alleviate GERD symptoms.¹²

There is also a theory that proposes a connection between the treatment of GERD with PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors) and the development of SIBO due to decreased stomach acid, which could initiate a cycle of increased gut pressure and gas production, further aggravating GERD symptoms.^{13, 14, 15}

From a clinical perspective, these theories seem to accurately reflect real world scenarios. I, and many of the gut health dietitians I’ve spoken to around the world, have seen substantial success by combining the LFD, GERD dietary recommendations and/or first-line IBS guidance (see box below) as dietary strategies for patients with coexisting IBS and GERD.

Stress, IBS & You

Stress and IBS often co-present. Stress can trigger IBS symptoms, and IBS symptoms can create stress. Read our article on Stress & IBS for ideas on how to alleviate this unfortunate circle.

We have heard from several people in the military dealing with an inordinate amount of stress that exacerbates their IBS. We have an article for you: Dealing With IBS In The Military.

The Takeaway

If you are struggling to manage symptoms for both of these gut disorders, it may benefit you to take a combined approach between the LFD and a GERD diet to maximize overall symptom relief. As always, it’s important to discuss any significant changes to your treatment strategy with your healthcare team – doctor, dietitian, gastroenterologist or other specialist — first.

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References:

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7. World Gastroenterology Organization. (2015). WGO Handbook on Heartburn: A Global Perspective. In World Digestive Health Day. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved from https://www.worldgastroenterology.org/UserFiles/file/WDHD-2015-handbook-final.pdf
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