Artificial intelligence (AI) has permeated various aspects of life, from suggesting recipes to cleaning tips, used in the customer service sector, within manufacturing and education – as well as for medical advice. But its use in providing medical advice has sparked considerable debate.
While AI can process and analyze data at unprecedented speeds, its application in the medical field, especially for self-diagnosis and treatment advice, carries significant risks. This article explores why relying on AI for medical advice can be problematic, with focus on the nuances of medically directed diets, such as the low FODMAP diet, and for self-diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
How AI Works
Some of you might be familiar with the various AI systems, but for those who are not, we will discuss one of the most commonly used.
ChatGPT is an advanced artificial intelligence program developed by OpenAI that interacts with users in a conversational manner. You ask it a question, and it answers. It uses a type of AI technology called a language model, specifically the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) series, which has been trained on a diverse range of internet text to learn how to respond in a way that is (hopefully) contextually appropriate. But it doesn’t always get it right.
AI Can Be Wrong
The bolded point in the previous section is important. AI bases its responses on existing information, and sometimes that information is wrong (this happens often with the low FODMAP diet), or does not apply to you, specifically. Depending on the AI system, it is also often not necessarily current; different systems have different cut-offs for accessing information.
Medical Issues Are Not Always Clear Cut
For instance, there is overlap of IBS symptoms with other medical issues and diseases that are far more serious, and even deadly.
Diagnosing IBS and differentiating it from ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, microscopic colitis, celiac disease, diverticulitis, endometriosis, pancreatitis, gall bladder issues, SIBO and stomach cancer should be carried out by a medical doctor.
The Low FODMAP Diet Is Nuanced & Complex
The low FODMAP diet is nuanced and complex, and there is a plethora of incorrect information online, that AI systems, unfortunately, use to “learn”. The AI systems have no way to tell what is right or wrong. If you ask an AI system to provide a low FODMAP recipe for roast chicken, it might very well show you a recipe that is not low FODMAP, because somewhere on the internet the recipe is called low FODMAP. The AI system doesn’t know better. And meal plans? We have seen entire weeks of “low FODMAP meals” presented that were not low FODMAP. (If you are looking for low FODMAP meal plans, there are reliable resources).
Lack of Personalized Care
AI systems typically analyze large data sets and identify patterns that might not be applicable to individual cases. In addition, medicine is highly personalized. What works for the majority may not work for a specific individual due to unique biological factors, existing health conditions, and other personal variables. Unlike a human doctor, AI lacks the ability to fully understand complex human conditions and the nuances of patient history, which are often crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Do NOT use AI to diagnose. Please seek out a human doctor.
Data Quality and Bias
AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, as mentioned before. If the underlying data is biased or flawed, the AI’s advice can be inaccurate or harmful. Medical datasets can be biased in terms of ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status, potentially leading to inappropriate suggestions for underrepresented groups. For example, if an AI is trained predominantly on data from one ethnic group, it may be less accurate for people of a different ethnic background.
When it comes to the low FODMAP diet AI is looking at all the low FODMAP information out there – and much of it is incorrect. And when it comes to IBS, you want to make sure that you do not have a more serious condition. Please consult a human medical doctor.
Misinterpretation and Misuse
The convenience of accessing AI for medical advice can lead people to misuse or misinterpret the information. AI-driven platforms might provide quick answers, but these can be taken out of context or applied incorrectly by individuals without proper medical training. Such misinterpretation can delay proper medical treatment or lead to self-treatment that can exacerbate health problems.
Privacy and Security Concerns
Utilizing AI for health advice often requires users to input personal health information. This raises significant privacy and security concerns, as sensitive data could potentially be accessed by unauthorized parties or used in ways that the user has not consented to. The breach of such information could have serious repercussions, both personally and professionally for the individuals involved.
Regulatory and Ethical Issues
The deployment of AI in healthcare is subject to regulatory and ethical considerations. Currently, there are significant gaps in the regulation of AI applications, leading to uncertainties about liability in cases of incorrect advice or diagnosis. Ethical issues also arise, particularly concerning the accountability of AI systems and their makers for errors that could affect patient health.
AI Cannot Tailor Medical Information For You
Medically directed diets, such as the low FODMAP diet, illustrate the complexities and nuances of using AI in managing health through nutrition. The low FODMAP diet is specifically designed to help manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders. This diet involves eliminating foods that are high in certain fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs), which are known to cause digestive distress in sensitive individuals.
It is important to note that everyone’s IBS presents differently, and the approach to the low FODMAP diet should be tailored to each individual as well. AI cannot provide this.
Importance of Professional Guidance
The process of implementing the low FODMAP diet effectively requires careful guidance from a healthcare professional, preferably a FODMAP trained dietitian. It involves three phases: Elimination, Challenge, and Integration. Each phase must be tailored to the individual’s responses to different foods, which is something AI cannot fully manage due to the subtleties of human digestion and symptom management.
IBS & The Low FODMAP Diet: Not One Size Fits All
The way IBS presents in individuals is unique, and the approach to the diet should be as well; this is exactly what a dietitian can help with. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Risks of AI Guidance
If an individual relies on AI for diagnosing IBS, or managing a low FODMAP diet, several issues could arise:
- Misdiagnoses of IBS: IBS is a complex medical condition that requires attention to detail in order to diagnose correctly.
- Misdiagnosis of More Serious Conditions: Worse case scenario, a person uses AI to self-diagnose IBS, when in reality they have a more serious disease.
- The Low FODMAP Diet is Meant to Be Medically Directed: The low FODMAP diet is meant to be undertaken with a FODMAP trained dietitian – not left to the patient using AI for information and support.
- Misidentification of FODMAPs: AI might inaccurately classify foods as high or low in FODMAPs based on incomplete data or generalizations that do not account for primary research.
- Over-restriction: Without professional guidance, individuals might unnecessarily restrict their diet more than required, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, as well as disordered eating patterns.
- Lack of Monitoring: AI cannot monitor physiological responses or adjust dietary recommendations based on real-time feedback, which is crucial for the success of the diet.
Conclusion
While AI offers great potential in many fields, the inherent limitations and risks associated with its use in providing medical advice, especially for complex issues like the diagnosis of IBS and medically directed diets, make it a less than ideal resource. The human element of medicine, characterized by personalized care, empathy, and ethical responsibility, remains irreplaceable. Please work with gastroenterologist for an accurate medical diagnosis, and then a FODMAP trained Registered Dietitian, if IBS is diagnosed and the diet is recommended.
Our Top 10 Recommended IBS & Low FODMAP Books
The low FODMAP diet necessitates that we educate ourselves about the diet and our gastrointestinal system. While we hope all of you are working with a Registered Dietitian (RD), even then, it makes sense to have solid foundation on the diet and your related GI issues.
While we work hard at FODMAP Everyday® to create articles that cover your needs, there is just something about having a book that you can hold in your hands. And, yes, we actually encourage making notes in the margin!
