1. Background. FODMAPs consist of fructose, lactose, fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharides such as fructans and galactans, and polyols such as sorbitol and mannitol. These carbohydrates are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and have been shown to trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Previous studies have shown that fructose malabsorption results in an increased osmotic load in the small bowel, which can have a laxative effect. Physical proof of this has only been obtained using an ileostomy model on patients. This study indicated increased small bowel water content (SBWC) but this has never been established in intact humans .). We have been using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide novel insights on the fate of food materials within the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of humans for the last decade.