Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

^{Sources (sidenote: Ford AC, Sperber AD, Corsetti M, et al. Irritable bowel syndrome. Lancet. 2020 Nov 21;396(10263):1675-1688 )}

What causes irritable bowel syndrome?

The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are complex, and not yet fully identified. IBS is thought to be triggered by a combination of different factors, the importance of which varies from person to person ²: genetic predisposition, certain medical histories and treatments, stress, diet, etc.

The most well-known risk factor for IBS is a history of acute intestinal infection: 10% of people with IBS believe their problems began after such an episode, for example viral gastroenteritis, traveler’s diarrhea or diverticulitis (sidenote: Diverticulitis Diverticulitis is an inflammation or infection of the diverticula, small folds (hernias) in the inner wall of the colon.  https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/diverticulitis ) ^1,4,5. The risk of developing IBS seems to be quadrupled after one year following this type of infection ¹.

^{Sources (sidenote: SNFGE. Syndrome de l’intestin irritable (SII) [Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)]. June 2018. CNPHGE.  Syndrome de l’intestin irritable [Irritable bowel syndrome]. )}

Recent research is increasingly suggesting that the gut microbiota play a key role in the development of IBS ^6,7. Experts have even recognized an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiota, or dysbiosis, as a plausible cause of IBS ⁵. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis has also been associated with the development of IBS ¹.

The scientific community is also showing strong interest in the role of diet in IBS. Over 60% of IBS patients say their symptoms appeared or worsened after eating ^8,9. This is labeled as bowel hypersensitivity. The presence of certain food compounds (wheat, milk, etc.) appears to trigger an exaggerated reaction in the gut, which can be immune-related ^10,11. Moreover, dietary habits often disturb the gut microbiota and cause abnormal fermentation of ingested food, thought to play a crucial role in intestinal distension ¹⁰.

IBS is also triggered by traumatic or distressing events (bereavement, divorce, abuse, conflict, etc.), and by acute or chronic stress and other psychological disorders such as depression or anxiety ^1,2,7. These appear to exert a negative impact on the enteric nervous system (sidenote: The enteric nervous system The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the nervous system of the gut. It is composed of a network of neurons that line the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and controls the sensory, motor and secretory activity of the digestive system. Watson C., Kirkcaldie M., Paxinos G. The brain: an introduction to functional neuroanatomy – Chapter 4 - Peripheral nerves. Academic Press, 2010. 43-54 ) , which controls motor function, the mucosal barrier, sensory function and intestinal secretions ¹.

Could poor communication between the gut and brain explain IBS?

Does the gut-brain axis mean anything to you? The brain communicates with the enteric nervous system in both directions: what happens in the brain affects the gut, and vice versa. But that is not all: neurons in the gut are linked directly to the gut microbiota, which also maintains bidirectional communication with our hormonal and immune systems.

IBS disturbances cause:

What are the main symptoms of IBS?

According to well-established criteria, IBS is characterized by the simultaneous presence of several symptoms, involving abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction. These symptoms must be sufficiently frequent and long-standing (>1 day/week in the past 3 months) ^13,14:

• Recurrent abdominal pain (at least 1 day a week);
• Painful defecation;
• Bloating;
• Change in stool consistency;
• Change in stool frequency.

Some clarification and explanation may be useful!

Abdominal pain is manifested by spasms, burning sensations, tightness and bloating. It occurs around the navel, in the lower abdomen, and can appear to follow the course of the colon. The pain is associated with defecation, and can be aggravated or relieved by the emission of gas or stools ².

Abnormalities in stool consistency and frequency range from stools that are too soft and/or too frequent (as in diarrhea) to stools that are too hard and/or too infrequent (as in constipation). There may be alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation. These transit disorders are sometimes accompanied by other types of discomfort, including an urgent need to pass stools, presence of mucus in stools or an impression of incomplete stool evacuation ⁵.

IBS symptoms vary in severity from person to person, and over time in the same person ^3,5. They can range from being inconvenient to very disabling, with severe forms of IBS affecting 20-25% of patients ³. Generally speaking, they affect personal, social and professional quality of life ^1,3.

Only physicians can diagnose IBS, once they have successfully ruled out another digestive disorder ². There is no diagnostic test for IBS as yet, so physicians rely on patients’ descriptions of symptoms; the results of clinical examinations and imaging carried out in people with IBS are generally normal ³.

Which disorders and conditions are associated with IBS?

Generally speaking, people with IBS are more likely to suffer from certain disorders and conditions.

• Other digestive disorders: In over 20% of cases, IBS is accompanied by bloating, flatulence ⁴, nausea or heartburn ¹⁶. Some people are also intolerant of certain foods ⁵.
• Psychological disorders: Not only can psychological factors play a role in causing IBS, but a proportion of sufferers may also develop psychological disorders as a result of IBS ¹, for example anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia or eating disorders ⁵.
• Genitourinary disorders: IBS may be accompanied by pelvic pain, urinary disorders, pain during intercourse in women and erectile dysfunction in men ^4,5.
• Endometriosis: Studies have shown that women with endometriosis are three times more likely to develop IBS ¹⁷.
• General disorders: Some people with IBS experience fatigue, lethargy, headaches and/or muscle pain ^2,4,5. IBS is more common in people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue ¹.

How to treat your IBS?

Although painful and challenging to live with in everyday life, IBS is a benign disorder ². Despite this, IBS symptoms should be relieved as soon as possible to improve quality of life ³. Your physician will give you lifestyle tips and recommend an optimal combination of specific medications and alternative solutions.

Good nutritional habits can alleviate IBS symptoms ^6,18:

• eat meals at regular times and avoid skipping meals;
• avoid “pantagruelian” meals and spicy or greasy dishes;
• chew food well;
• drink enough fluids;
• limit alcohol, caffeine and tobacco;
• engage in regular physical activity.

Medication

Some IBS symptoms can be improved by taking physician-prescribed medication, for example antispasmodics, intestinal transit regulators, laxatives in case of IBS-C, antidiarrheals in case of IBS-D, and sometimes antidepressants ⁹. But these drugs are not effective in everyone ¹⁶, and to date none have been shown to relieve all IBS symptoms.

Mind-body therapies

Mind-body therapies (sidenote: Mind-body therapies Mind-body therapies are practices that focus on the relationships between the body, brain, mind and behavior and their effects on health and disease. Wahbeh H, Elsas SM, Oken BS. Mind-body interventions: applications in neurology. Neurology. 2008;70(24):2321-2328 ) can reduce pain and discomfort associated with bowel disorders, particularly in people in whom stress and anxiety can exacerbate symptoms. Examples include cognitive-behavioral therapy (sidenote: Cognitive-behavioral therapy A type of psychotherapy where therapists help patients to identify the impact of their dysfunctional thoughts (incorrect, negative) on their behavior and well-being. Cuijpers P, Smit F, Bohlmeijer E, et al. Efficacy of cognitive–behavioural therapy and other psychological treatments for adult depression: meta-analytic study of publication bias. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2010;196(3):173-178 InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006. Cognitive behavioral therapy. 2013 Aug 7 [Updated 2016 Sep 8] ) , hypnosis, meditation, relaxation and biofeedback (sidenote: Biofeedback A method for learning how to control certain bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension, using a special device. It can help control pain. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/biofeedback ) ¹⁶.

Diets

Many people with IBS find that certain foods improve or aggravate their symptoms, but they are not the same for everyone. Modifying the diet can therefore improve IBS symptoms, but this should always be done with the help of a health professional (physician, dietician), to work out a personalized solution and prevent any nutritional imbalance ¹⁶.

For example, your physician can help you detect any foods that “don’t work for you” (milk, wheat, legumes, etc.), to then limit their intake ⁹. You can also include more fiber in your diet if you have IBS-C, although not in excess to avoid increased risk of pain and bloating ⁶.

Of the diets tested scientifically, the low FODMAPS diet (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols), seems to give the best results in relieving IBS ^6,16 although it does not work for everyone ². FODMAPs are sugars that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and ferment through the action of gut microbiota bacteria. This fermentation exacerbates bloating and pain in people with IBS.

The diet consists in significantly reducing intake of foods rich in FODMAPs, which are foods containing lactose, certain cereals, certain fruits and vegetables, synthetic sweeteners, processed foods, etc. It can be restrictive, it requires supervision by a physician, and must be monitored for 4 to 6 weeks. If symptoms improve, foods containing FODMAPs are then gradually reintroduced one by one. In this way it will be possible to determine which food(s) aggravate your symptoms and avoid them ^2,19.

Probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation

Various studies have highlighted the importance of the gut microbiota in the occurrence of IBS, and shown differences in the composition of gut microbiota between affected and healthy individuals ⁵. Solutions may therefore be proposed to modulate the gut microbiota, with the aim of improving IBS symptoms ²⁰.

According to experts, prebiotics are a promising option. Studies show that they have an overall positive effect on IBS symptoms by acting on various mechanisms, such as visceral hypersensitivity and intestinal motility ⁹. Probiotics can strengthen the colonic barrier, reduce inflammation and improve gut immunity, for example ²⁰. Some may even act on the gut-brain axis and improve depressive symptoms ⁹. All these effects appear to be beneficial to well-being: in a recent study, consumption of a strain of bifidobacteria reduced symptom severity and improved quality of life in 60% of people with IBS in 30 days ²¹.

Studies on the effect of symbiotics on IBS, which combine probiotics and prebiotics, are also underway ⁹, and initial testing of fecal microbiota transplantation has yielded encouraging results in some patients with IBS who have seen an improvement in both symptoms and quality of life ¹.

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