Figure 1.

This Venn diagram shows the relationship between FODMAP, comprises of fructose, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. The central diet includes the majority of carbohydrates which are hypothesized to be malfermented by lower intestinal bacteria and therefore leading to excess production of gas and short-chain fatty acids with induction of symptoms. Thus, FODMAP includes all prebiotics in which lactose is included also as a restricted probiotic in lactose maldigesters. It is the hypothetical benefits of either withdrawal from diet or adapting to the prebiotic components of this diet that potentially forms a scientific conundrum in application.