FODMAP
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols — a group of short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed and rapidly fermented by gut bacteria. The low-FODMAP diet is an evidence-based treatment for IBS symptoms, developed at Monash University.
Related terms
Prebiotic
Non-digestible food components (typically dietary fibres) that selectively stimulate the growth or activity of beneficial gut bacteria. Common examples include inulin, FOS, and GOS.
SIBO
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. A condition where excessive bacteria colonise the small intestine (which normally has relatively few), causing bloating, pain, and malabsorption.