Wheat gluten and IBS symptoms: what the evidence shows
What it found
In people with IBS, it is still unclear whether gluten, other wheat proteins or FODMAPs are the real trigger of symptoms like belly pain and bloating.
Studies in people have given conflicting results.
What they found
Studies in people
Wheat as a trigger
Wheat is seen as one of the most relevant triggers for IBS, but which component of the grain is involved remains unknown.
Possible culprits
Gluten, other wheat proteins such as amylase-trypsin inhibitors, and fructans (which are FODMAPs) have all been named as possible causes of symptoms starting or getting worse.
Conflicting trial results
Double-blind placebo-controlled trials have given results that do not agree with each other. This has led to a range of terms, from non-coeliac gluten sensitivity to non-coeliac wheat or wheat protein sensitivity, and even FODMAP sensitivity.
Other findings
FODMAPs beyond wheat
FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates found in many other foods too, including vegetables and fruits. This makes their role in IBS symptoms broader than wheat alone.
What the authors conclude
- They say the current evidence is still not clear enough to settle whether gluten, wheat or FODMAP sensitivity is fact or fiction in IBS symptoms.
- They expect this knowledge to help standardise dietary approaches, such as gluten-free or wheat-free diets and low FODMAP diets, as effective ways to manage IBS symptoms.
How it was done
Food is thought to set off or worsen IBS symptoms, and wheat is seen as one of the most likely triggers. But which part of wheat is responsible is not known.
The authors looked at the current research on whether sensitivity to gluten, wheat or FODMAPs is a real cause of IBS symptoms. They focused on double-blind placebo-controlled trials in people.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The trials looked at symptoms in people with IBS, so the results may not apply to people without IBS.
- The review cannot say which specific part of wheat is responsible for symptoms, because the studies so far disagree.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Bologna, Italy; Monash University, Australia
The paper
- Title
- Sensitivity to wheat, gluten and FODMAPs in IBS: facts or fiction?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- De Giorgio R, Volta U, Gibson PR (2016). Sensitivity to wheat, gluten and FODMAPs in IBS: facts or fiction?. Gut. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2015-309757PubMed 26078292DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error