The Impact of Low-FODMAP Diet vs. Traditional Dietary Advice in Reducing Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Author(s): Ghazala S. Virk, Muna Hamad, Ahsan Munir, Asiya Tasleema Shaik, Muhammad Sohail S. Mirza, Nitesh Adhikari, Samah Mohammed, Muhammad Subhan, Izzat Izzat, Marium Abid, Binish Essani

Chronic symptoms such as epigastric pain, bloating and early satiety are the main features of functional dyspepsia (FD). Even though the Low-FODMAP diet is beneficial for IBS, more research is needed to determine its effects on FD. The purpose of this review was to find out how helpful the Low-FODMAP diet is for people with FD. A search was made in well-known databases (PubMed, web of science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies published between 2020 and 2025. Studies that looked at the difference between Low-FODMAP diet and either control dietary advice or placebo in people with FD were included. Analysis of pooled data was performed and effect size was calculated using a random-effects model. The degree of heterogeneity was tabulated using the I² statistic and funnel plotting and Egger’s test were carried out to check for publication bias. From the total number of studies investigated, ten were used for the review since they mirrored the criteria. The combined analysis showed that following the Low- FODMAP diet led to fewer symptoms in the gut and a better quality of life for people with FD (r = 0.29, 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.57). The diet may noticeably enhance psychological outcomes, and reductions in anxiety and depression were found in several studies. Ongoing research is, however, complicated by the presence of significant heterogeneity (I² = 94.5%) among studies. The intervention would hence indicate variability in treatment outcomes. This gives credence to the Low- FODMAP diet as a good intervention for gastrointestinal symptoms in FD and is likely to promote psychological well-being. Although the heterogeneity was observed, overall results encourage such a diet for this specific: management of FD. More studies should be conducted to standardize protocols, determine their long-term effects, and better understand the psychological implications of the diet.