What’s happening?
A team of Monash University researchers is celebrating 20 years of helping millions of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) through its world-first Low FODMAP Diet.
The first FODMAP paper was published on 1 April 2005, after researchers at the Monash University Department of Gastroenterology identified a group of short-chain carbohydrates that were either poorly absorbed in the small intestine or rapidly fermented by bacteria in the large intestine.
This led to the development of the Low FODMAP Diet, which has since grown into a global resource that includes a popular app, a cookbook, food certification, social media pages, a website and online courses.
Why it matters
IBS affects up to one in ten people globally. The Low FODMAP Diet is now recognised as an effective treatment that allows patients to personalise their long-term eating plan and maintain good gut health.
Professor Peter Gibson, who was part of the original team and is now Professor of Gastroenterology in the Monash University School of Translational Medicine, explained, “The Low FODMAP Diet empowers people to create a diet that works for them. We’re not trying to cut things out completely; we’re helping to reduce the effect FODMAPS have on some people. We’ve also worked hard to ensure the accuracy of our information.”
Local impact
Associate Professor Jane Muir, also part of the original team and now Head of Translational Nutrition Science at Monash, said, “It’s a Monash University initiative. It’s the Monash University Low FODMAP Diet and so it will always be part of Monash University. Everyone involved over the years is proud to have played their part in helping to put diet therapies on the map.”
By the numbers
- The Monash FODMAP App has been downloaded 1.75 million times since its 2012 launch at a one-off AUD$12.99.
- Studies replicated worldwide show that 50–80 per cent of people with IBS respond to the Low FODMAP Diet.
- Online courses have been taken by thousands of patients and dietitians in more than 100 countries.
Zoom in
Associate Professor Emma Halmos, a senior research dietitian, led the pivotal feeding study during her PhD that proved the Low FODMAP Diet was effective in treating IBS. These findings have since been replicated by research groups across the world, showing consistent success.
Dr Jane Varney, a senior research dietitian who heads the Low FODMAP education program, said that teaching both dietitians and patients was critical. She added that translations of the Monash App into Japanese, Norwegian and Dutch are on the way, joining existing versions in Spanish, Italian, German and French. “It’s a huge task but worth it to ensure as many people as possible can access the Low FODMAP Diet,” she said.
Zoom out
The Monash FODMAP App uses a traffic light system to guide people: red for high, amber for moderate and green for low FODMAP foods in a typical serve. The method begins with reducing all FODMAPs, then identifying specific triggers, and later reintroducing foods to create a personalised plan.
Food manufacturers can also have their products tested and certified as Low FODMAP, with results included in the app’s food database. In 2023, the team released its first low FODMAP cookbook.
What are FODMAPs?
FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed or digested and can trigger IBS symptoms. When FODMAPs reach the small intestine, they attract water. Once in the large intestine, they are fermented by gut bacteria, producing gas. The resulting gas and water stretch the intestinal wall, which in people with IBS, causes pain and discomfort.
Examples of high FODMAP foods include:
- Excess fructose – in honey, high fructose corn syrup and fruits such as mango.
- Lactose – in milk and dairy products.
- Polyols – in fruits such as pears and apples, vegetables such as mushrooms, and artificial sweeteners.
- Oligosaccharides (fructans and GOS) – in wheat, rye, onions, garlic, legumes and lentils.
What to look for next?
The team continues expanding its reach through more translations, resources and certifications. With IBS affecting millions worldwide, Monash University’s Low FODMAP Diet will remain central to managing gut health for years to come.
