Infuse 5.5 FNCE Special Edition | Page 16

Can you share any of your findings?
I've also led research on whether we can
predict response to dietary intervention in IBS
by measuring different elements of people's
faecal samples. Hopefully soon we will be able
to say something like, "Based on your stool
analysis, you've got 60% chance of responding
to a low FODMAP diet, so let's try it." It’s
personalised nutrition.
We’re looking at more of the mechanistic
aspect of diet, and how we can look at new
therapies that are food-based.
As we know, the low FODMAP diet is not good
for our gut microbiota in the long term. One
of my colleagues, Dr Heidi Staudecher, looked
at adding probiotics into a low FODMAP diet,
for her PhD. People on a low FODMAP diet
took a probiotic every day, and she found that
it prevented some of that negative decline in
their gut bacteria.
Where do you see gut health going in the next
decade or so?
Again, personalised nutrition! Also, we need
to be smarter about the use of probiotics.
Each strain of probiotic has a very different
function. So, we need to be more specific with
our prescription. But at the minute we don't
have all that research, and the strains are quite
limited from manufacturers. Watch this space
– that's where it will head.
Another project we're working on is looking
at different types of dietary fibres in
people with IBS. Certain fibres can trigger
gut symptoms, leading to a lot of people
excluding fruit and vegetables, which can
be a vicious cycle. We’re looking at whether
we can combine different fibres to increase
tolerability and have the long-term effect of
supporting the gut microbiota. We’ve teamed
up with experts to give people acute doses
of different types of fibre, then scan their gut
to see how much gas and small bowel water
is produced after having that dietary fibre,
as well as the core symptoms. There's a lot of
potential there.
How important do you think having a PhD has
been to your success?
It’s set me apart from other people looking at
gut health and given me credibility that other
people might not have gotten. But it certainly
is not essential. If you don't have the passion
for research, certainly don't spend three years
doing it.
interview continues overleaf...
© Dietitian Connection
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Infuse | October 2018 - Special FNCE issue