Dietary Interventions for Gastroparesis: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Systematic Review

Background:

• Gastroparesis (Gp) significantly impacts quality of life due to delayed gastric emptying.
• Dietary interventions are primary treatments, but their effectiveness is not well-defined.
• Evidence for pediatric gastroparesis dietary management is notably absent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effectiveness of dietary interventions on clinical outcomes in gastroparesis.
• To identify specific diets that may improve symptoms and gastric emptying.
• To assess the current evidence base for both adult and pediatric gastroparesis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of MEDLINE Ovid (March 2008–October 2021) for relevant studies.
• Inclusion of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies reporting dietary interventions in Gp.
• Assessment of studies based on changes in patient-reported outcomes and gastric emptying time.

Main Results:

• Six adult studies (185 subjects) met inclusion criteria; no pediatric studies qualified.
• Low-fat, small-particle, isoflavone, bland, starchy, sweet, and salty diets did not worsen Gp symptoms.
• Small-particle and isoflavone diets improved gastric emptying; small-particle diets also reduced anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Specific dietary interventions, particularly low-fat and small-particle diets, show potential for improving Gp symptoms and gastric emptying in adults.
• A critical lack of data exists for dietary interventions in pediatric gastroparesis.
• Further research is needed to establish evidence-based dietary guidelines for all age groups with Gp.