Evidence-Based and Emerging Diet Recommendations for Small Bowel Disorders.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Nutrition Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Diet is increasingly recognized for its role in small bowel disorders.
• Three primary conditions with potential dietary interventions include nonceliac gluten/wheat sensitivity, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
• Current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these conditions present challenges and knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of dietary interventions in small bowel disorders.
• To highlight the role of diet in nonceliac gluten/wheat sensitivity, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
• To identify areas for future research and clinical advancement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on dietary interventions for small bowel conditions.
• Analysis of current research on triggers, diagnostics, and treatments.
• Synthesis of findings to provide an overview of the field.

Main Results:

• Nonceliac gluten/wheat sensitivity may involve triggers beyond gluten, with gluten-free diets as a primary treatment, though adherence and duration are debated.
• Dietary interventions like elimination and elemental diets show potential for eosinophilic gastroenteritis, necessitating further trials.
• Diet's role in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is under investigation, but current management primarily relies on antimicrobials due to diagnostic limitations.

Conclusions:

• Dietary interventions represent a novel and advancing field for managing small bowel disorders.
• Further robust clinical trials are essential to validate and refine dietary approaches.
• Improved diagnostic tools and a deeper understanding of microbial-diet interactions are needed for SIBO.