subject: The Latest On Ibs And What Might Cause It? [print this page] Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by a group of symptoms that include abnormal bowel movements such as diarrhoea, constipation or both, along with abdominal bloating and pain. In the past many researchers believed it was all in the mind and that IBS was a psychological problem. This is not the case and IBS has been found to be a lot more complex than previously thought.
Most medical professionals agree that IBS is a result of brain-gut dysfunction but what is really going on in the gut of someone who has IBS? Unfortunately no one really knows and the possible causes that have been identified are diverse and not properly understood. However, research continues to shed light on this condition which incidentally is now the most common complaint seen by gastroenterologists today.
Serine Proteases
Recent research from the University of Calgary in Alberta has found that people with IBS have elevated levels of enzymes known as Serine Proteases, in fact double the amount that was found in people with healthy digestive systems.
Serine Proteases, also known as serine endopeptidases, are enzymes that are involved in many processes in the body but as far as digestion is concerned they cut peptide bonds in proteins and help us to digest our food. They are normally produced by the body but are also produced from good bacteria in the gut.
What is interesting about this study is that it didn't matter whether the IBS was diarrhoea or constipation predominant or a mixture of both, the same high levels were found in them all.
So it stands to reason that if we could establish what causes the increased proteases activity then it may be possible to find more efficient ways to treat IBS, possibly by developing serine proteases inhibitors. At the moment any treatment for IBS involves dealing with the specific symptoms involved, which of course can vary from person to person and as such is more a case of trial and error to see what works. Future research could change this.
The role of bacteria in IBS
Many previous studies have highlighted the role that bacteria have to play in IBS. For example, many people find that they develop IBS after a bout of gastroenteritis or after taking a course of antibiotics, both of which can lead to an imbalance in the bacteria in the gut.
Bacteria are always present in the gut. The friendly bacteria are so called because they help us to break down foods into amino acids, carbohydrates, sugars, fats and many other vitamins and minerals so that they can contribute to the growth of healthy cells. They also help to keep the levels of harmful bacteria down and therefore they have an impact on our overall health and wellbeing.
However, many things can upset this balance leading to intestinal dysbiosis or basically an imbalance in the bacteria present in the gut, something that has been linked to IBS as well as other bowel conditions.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
When the bacteria in the gut is excessive, it can lead to all kinds of problems including depression, anxiety, mental fog and fatigue and if the bacteria manages to seep through and invade the gut wall they can cause inflammation as well as autoimmune responses.
The problem starts when bacteria takes hold in the small intestine as in a normal healthy gut there are relatively few bacteria in the small intestine as most of it is located in the colon. A hydrogen breath test is able to indicate the likelihood of bacteria being present in the small intestine and indeed, in 2003, researchers from Cedars-Sinai medical centre found the 84% of IBS patient had abnormal breath tests indicating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Indeed, they also found that those treated with targeted antibiotics reported a significant improvement in their symptoms.
Other evidence that supports the view that bacteria plays an important part in IBS is the research highlighting the effectiveness of probiotics for IBS, namely Bifidobacterium infantis which has been clinically shown to alleviate the symptoms of IBS. Probiotics work by promoting the friendly bacteria in the gut thereby helping to rectify any imbalances.
The problem with stress and anxiety
Although IBS is NOT caused by stress or anxiety, and we know that IBS is NOT just a psychological problem, psychological factors do happen to have an affect on the symptoms of IBS which isn't that surprising when we consider the close relationship between the brain and the gut. Just think of the sensations that are felt in the pit of our stomachs when we are anxious or nervous. Stress and anxiety are known to make IBS much worse so finding ways of reducing stress and making any necessary lifestyle changes can help to keep IBS under control. Talking therapies can also be effective because they can expose any underlying anxieties or worries so that they can be dealt with.
