This UK single-centre RCT compared a low FODMAP diet vs. traditional dietary advice (TDA) in 60 adults with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) over 6 weeks, using the Leuven Postprandial Distress Scale (LPDS) as the primary outcome measure.
Low FODMAP diet outperformed TDA on all primary and secondary endpoints: a ≥0.5-point LPDS reduction was achieved by 61.3% vs. 37.9% (p=0.04); a ≥0.7-point reduction by 61.3% vs. 20.7% (p<0.001); and adequate symptom relief by 71.0% vs. 34.5% (p=0.005).
- Very small sample (n=60), limiting generalizability and statistical power. - Single-centre UK design with a predominantly white (78%), female (78%) cohort reduces applicability to broader populations. - No blinding was possible given the dietary intervention nature, introducing performance and reporting bias risk.
For patients with postprandial distress syndrome, consider offering a low FODMAP diet over standard dietary advice — roughly twice as many patients achieved meaningful symptom relief at 6 weeks. Referral to a dietitian skilled in FODMAP guidance is advisable, particularly given high IBS overlap (63% in this cohort).
