Thomassen R. A.: FODMAP

Dr. Alex Knisely is talking today to Dr. Rut Anne Thomassen, of Oslo, who is a senior dietitian – one of only a few in the councils of ESPGHAN – and whose recent remit from ESPGHAN was to pull together a position paper that sets out for us all what is known in paediatric patients about a form of elimination-and- reïntroduction diet called FODMAP, an acronym that lists the classes of foodstuffs to be withdrawn. Some say that it works in some patients with irritable bowel syndrome . . . but consensus among caregivers as set out in Dr. Thomassen’s work is first, that one has to identify those patients carefully, and second, that how to do so is still unclear. Are you under pressure from families who want something, anything done, including the FODMAP diet, to help their children with abdominal pain – or with primary-care referrers who want something, anything done, including the FODMAP diet, to make those children your patients? Seek consultation from a dietitian, Dr. Thomassen advises, speaking for ESPGHAN. He or she can help you with screening those patients for FODMAP suitability, with educating families in what might be reasonably expected, and with guarding against inappropriate deployment of FODMAP – which carries its own not insubstantial risks. Dr. Thomassen favourite song: Har Du Fyr - Hekla Stalstrenga https://open.spotify.com/track/3Ks0fW1UMhfyiZJbweP4rW?si=01cdf4801c914b9c ESPGHAN favourite Songs can be found on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YIHKjxITLEm9XNyHyypTo