Cure8 research brief
People with IBD in remission commonly continue to have IBS-like symptoms; this review summarizes randomized trial evidence for symptom-directed treatments and finds no definitive best option.
Adults with IBD who have persistent IBS-like symptoms despite remission, gastroenterologists and IBD clinicians, researchers designing symptom-directed trials, and dietitians/therapists involved in care.
The authors included 13 RCTs (688 participants) and grouped interventions into dietary, behavioral, pharmacologic, and other. Dietary approaches had the largest point estimate for symptom improvement but the evidence was rated very low certainty because results were inconsistent and imprecise.
Behavioral (gut–brain) interventions showed a small benefit with low-certainty evidence. Pharmacologic and other strategies were evaluated in only small, isolated trials. Many studies had high risk of bias, often from lack of blinding and subjective symptom endpoints.
Practical takeaways: The review does not identify a clearly proven treatment class to relieve IBS-like symptoms in quiescent IBD. Patients and clinicians may consider dietary or behavioral approaches, but should be aware that supporting evidence is limited and better trials are needed.
Decisions should be individualized and consider prior treatments, patient preference, and symptom impact.
This record is an abstract-level meta-analysis from Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The authors rate much of the evidence as low or very low certainty because of small trials, heterogeneity, and risk of bias; larger blinded trials with standardized endpoints are needed. The summary is grounded in the article abstract.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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