Linkage Between IBS and Your Gut Bacteria
IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the U.S. There are an estimated 30 million infected people in the US. Common symptoms include painful bloating, abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea, or an alternating pattern of the latter two. Traditional treatment have involved in medication, diet, and exercise. However, studies have also shown that three probiotics are the associated with treating IBS, too. They are Lactobacilli, Saccharomyces boulardii, and Bifidobacteria. According to a 2014 review of IBS treatment, Bifidobacteria have shown some benefits, especially Bifido bacterium infantis 35624. It has shown to reduce IBS pain and bloating when patients took it once daily. Some even reported that it helped ease and normalize bowel movements. According to new Cedars-Sinai study, a gut bacterial overgrowth has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome. In more than 320 subjects, more than a third of the patients were diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth, compared to less than ten percent of those who are without the disease. On the other hand, of those who have diarrhea-predominant IBS, there are sixty percent who had had bacterial growth. This strong association can also be seen with medication rifaximin. Patients who took this medication experienced relief of their symptoms even after they stopped taking it. Take care of our gut bacteria help with alleviating this common disease in America.
Sources
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2012) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120525103354.htm
- http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/ibsawarenessmonth.html
- Redondo (2020) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327421