Ehealth: Low FODMAP diet vs Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in irritable bowel syndrome

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Characteristics	LFD, n = 42	LGG, n = 41	ND, n = 40	P = 0.23
Male/Female	8/34	14/27	11/29	0.30
Age (yr, range)	37 (18-71)	43 (20-74)	32 (18-73)	0.08
BMI (range)	23 (19-38)	22 (18-34)	23 (17-34)	0.50
Smoking				0.92
Current	5 (12)	6 (15)	6 (15)
Former	8 (19)	11 (27)	11 (27)
Never	24 (57)	22 (54)	22 (55)
Missing	5	2	1
Disease duration (yr, range)	2.6 (0.7-13)	1.8 (0.7-15)	2 (0.5-9)	0.20
Diagnosis subtypes				0.24
IBS-A, mixed	14 (33)	19 (46)	14 (35)
IBS-C, constipation	5 (12)	7 (17)	7 (17)
IBS-D, diarrhoeal	19 (45)	13 (32)	18 (35)
Unknown	4	2	1
Abdominal surgery	7 (17)	9 (22)	6 (15)	0.40
IBS related medication	16 (38)	15 (37)	18 (45)	0.40
IBS-SSS	327 ± 94	279 ± 84	319 ± 83	0.17
IBS-QOL	56 ± 21	64 ± 15	57 ± 22	0.24

Data are expressed as n (%), mean ± SD or median (range). FODMAP: Fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols; LFD: Low FODMAP diet; LGG: Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; ND: Normal (Danish/Western) diet; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; SSS: Severity score system; IBS-QOL: IBS-quality of life; IBS-A: Alternation of constipation and diarrhoea; IBS-D: Irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhoea predominant; IBS-C: Irritable bowel syndrome-constipation predominant.