Difficult Digestives: Investigating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) awareness month, so we will explore a bit about this very uncomfortable gastrointestinal disorder.

Although IBS is identified by its gut-related symptoms, newer thinking around IBS considers it a disorder of brain-gut interaction. The Rome Foundation was incorporated in 1996 to support research into and diagnosis of such disorders and have published four volumes of the Rome criteria, where diagnostic and treatment information is provided based on the latest scientific information. The current volume (at time of writing in 2024) is Rome IV, but Rome V is scheduled for release in 2026.

According to the Rome IV criteria, IBS is characterised by recurrent abdominal pain on average 1 day per week in the past three months associated with at least two of the following criteria (1) relating to defecation, and/or associated with a change in (2) stool frequency and/or (stool appearance). Other disorders with similar symptoms are functional constipation, -diarrhoea, and -bloating, which would be diagnosed if all the requirements for IBS are not met.

The prevalence of IBS is difficult to pin down, since the diagnostic criteria are somewhat subjective (and has changed with each successive release of the Rome criteria), but most researchers estimate that 5–10% of people suffer from IBS, with a portion of those experiencing severely debilitating symptoms. The causes of IBS are similarly difficult to pin down, with the original assumption being that it was a disorder of intestinal motility, and more recently research has suggested that it is a disorder rooted in the interaction between brain, gut, and microbiome.

The specifics of these interactions are still in the process of being researched and discovered, and, given the complexity of the system, researchers are wary of assigning causal links to their observations. However, a growing number of studies have reported that people suffering from IBS and anxiety/depression disorders have similar neurobiological genetic mutations, and people with IBS have different micro-organism population dynamics in their gut. Hopefully these avenues of research will lead to more effective treatment options.

If the information above has left you a little dissatisfied with the state of things, there is some comfort ahead. Although there is no cure for IBS just yet, symptoms can often be managed effectively through a combination of lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, medication, and stress management techniques. Some strategies include identifying and avoiding trigger foods, stress management techniques such as mindfulness meditation and cognitive-behavioural therapy, medication such as antispasmodics and antidepressants, probiotics, and regular exercise. It's important for individuals with IBS to work closely with their healthcare provider to develop a comprehensive management plan tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

So, if your digestive system sometimes seems determined to rain on your parade, consider visiting your healthcare provider. Although there is no cure (yet), having a diagnosis is the first step in learning to manage your symptoms.

Sources:

At Smart Biotech, we believe that it is important to provide reliable information, so you can trust what we say. We use sources like Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the United Kingdom National Health Service, and other sources that are reviewed by appropriately qualified specialists.