The term ‘FODMAP’ is an acronym for a collection of sugars (also known as short chain carbohydrates) that have been identified as being problematic to certain individuals, in eliciting IBS-type symptoms.
FODMAPs are:
Fermentable
Oligosaccharides (fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides)
Disaccharides (lactose)
Monosaccharides (fructose in excess of glucose)
And
Polyols (sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol and xylitol).
When consumed in foods and/or drinks, FODMAPs can be poorly absorbed in the small intestine and pass through to the large intestine, where two major events happen:
- The FODMAPs are readily fermented by bacteria in the large bowel, contributing to the production of gas.
- The FODMAPs are also highly osmotic, meaning that they attract water into the large bowel, which can alter how quickly the bowels move.
These two processes can then trigger IBS-type symptoms including excess wind, abdominal bloating and distension, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea, or a combination of both.
