There are many claims that fasting helps curb the effects of IBS – there are no direct, long-term studies looking at fasting in IBS so it is hard to back this claim with real facts.
There was a 12-week study done in Japan back in 2007 that focused on this. It showed that those who fasted had improvements with pain, discomfort, diarrhoea, and anxiety. Although the study looks promising, you should be weary before implementing Intermittent Fasting to help with IBS symptoms.
- The fasting period was 4 weeks, which is not safe outside of a hospital environment
- It is unclear what diet the participants were given, it very well may have been a low FODMAP diet
- Because the study was only 12 weeks long, there isn't sufficient data to back the claims
Fasting can actually worsen IBS symptoms. Irregular eating and fasting can lessen prebiotic and fibre intake and this could harm the levels of good gut bacteria.