Dietary fat ingestion triggers bile secretion into the gastrointestinal tract. Bile acid malabsorption affects >1% of the population, causing loose stool and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The diagnosis is frequently missed. Treatments are often considered ineffective. We evaluated low-fat diets for managing gastrointestinal symptoms in these patients. All patients reporting type 6 or 7 stool were offered a selenium-75 homocholic acid taurine (SeHCAT) scan. Prospective data in patients with 7-day scan retention <20% were analysed. Patients requiring a bile acid sequestrant were given this before receiving dietary advice. Patients completed a 7-day food diary before dietetic consultations. Personalised dietary interventions, providing 20% of daily energy from fat, were prescribed. Symptoms were assessed using a modifi ed gastrointestinal symptom rating scale questionnaire before and 4-12 weeks after dietary intervention. A total of 114 patients (49 male, median age 64 years, median body mass index 27 kg/m 2 ) were evaluated. 44% of these patients were taking colesevelam. After dietary intervention, there was statistically signifi cant improvement in abdominal pain and nocturnal defecation (0.2% alpha, p=0.001). Improvement in bowel frequency, urgency, fl atulence, belching, borborygmi and stool consistency were seen, but did not reach statistical signifi cance (p≤0.004-0.031). Dietary intervention is an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic bile acid malabsorption and should be routinely considered. ABSTRACTThe efficacy of a low-fat diet to manage the symptoms of bile acid malabsorption -outcomes in patients previously treated for cancer

IntroductionDietary fat ingestion triggers bile secretion into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) or malabsorption (BAM) affects 1%–2% of the population. Affected individuals suffer a wide range of GI symptoms in addition to loose stool. The diagnosis is often missed and treatments are often reported to be ineffective. In this study we used SEHCAT scanning to determine treatment options and evaluated the impact of low-fat diets on GI symptoms in these patients.MethodThis study analysed prospectively collected data in patients with 7 day 75selenium homocholic acid taurine (SeHCAT) scan retention <20%. All patients reporting type 6 or 7 stool were offered a SeHCAT scan. Patients with abnormal scans requiring a bile acid sequestrant were given this before receiving dietary advice. Patients completed a 7 day food diary before consultation with a registered dietitian and personalised low-fat dietary interventions, providing 20% of daily energy from fat were prescribed. Symptoms were assessed using a modified Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire before and 4–12 weeks after dietary intervention.ResultsBetween January 2014 to March 2016, 114 patients, 49 men and 65 women, median age of 64 years, median BMI of 27 kg/m2 were evaluated. 50% had previously undergone GI surgery and 45% had additional GI disorders. 44% were taking Colesevelam. After dietary intervention, the frequency with which patients experienced GI symptoms decreased, with a significant reduction in troublesome urgency, flatulence, abdominal pain, nocturnal defaecation, belching and borborygmi (p≤0.01). Stool consistency and stool frequency also improved.ConclusionDietary intervention is an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic bile acid malabsorption/diarrhoea and should be routinely considered. The exact fat restriction which is effective, requires further study.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

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