Baseline characteristics of medication arm (n=232) and diet arm (n=227)
| Medication (n=232) | Diet (n=227) | P value | |
| Age (years old), mean±SD | 41.2±15 | 40.6±15 | 0.61 |
| Gender (% females) | 76 (n=175/231) | 76 (n=168/222) | 0.98 |
| BMI (kg/m2), mean±SD | 24.9±5 | 24.3±4 | 0.16 |
| Stool type (%) IBS-C IBS-D IBS-M IBS-U | 21 (n=48/231) 27 (n=63/231) 42 (n=97/231) 10 (n=23/231) | 20 (n=44/222) 28 (n=62/222) 38 (n=85/222) 14 (n=31/222) | 0.60 |
| IBS-SSS, mean±SD | 267±100 | 267±96 | 0.87 |
| IBS-QoL, mean±SD | 32.1±17.7 | 31.6±16.3 | 0.99 |
| Anxiety, mean±SD | 5.9±3.7 | 6.1±3.6 | 0.47 |
| Depression, mean±SD | 6.8±4.9 | 7.0±5.0 | 0.62 |
| PHQ15, mean±SD | 10.0±3.9 | 9.8±4.1 | 0.47 |
BMI, body mass index; IBS-C, constipation-predominant IBS; IBS-D, diarrhoea-predominant IBS; IBS-M, mixed subtype IBS; IBS-QoL, IBS quality of life; IBS-SSS, IBS Symptom Severity Scale; IBS-U, unclassified IBS.