- The gut microbiota — the mix of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans — aids metabolism, digestion, and immune function.
- The new report suggests that changes to bacteria in the gut may trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
- Because the causes of IBS remain a mystery, it’s unclear how, exactly, the microbiome plays a role in the development of the disorder.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may be influenced by abnormal levels of bacteria in your gut, aka the gut microbiota, according to a new study from Korea.
The gut microbiota — the mix of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans — aids metabolism, digestion, and immune function.
Abnormal bacteria balances — which is referred to as “gut bacterial dysbiosis” — has been linked to a number of gastrointestinal (GI) issues, including celiac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
The new report, published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum on Thursday, suggests that changes to bacteria in the gut may trigger IBS symptoms, too.
Past research has identified an associated link between IBS — a common gastrointenstinal disorder that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation — and gut bacterial dysbiosis, however, because the causes of IBS remain a mystery, it’s unclear how, exactly, the microbiome plays a role in the development of the disorder.
“Many studies have found that the microbiota found in those with IBS is distinct from healthy individuals. As our understanding of the exact mechanisms of IBS disease remain unclear, fitting an altered microbiome into this picture remains an active area of investigation,” Sean Spencer, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist specializing in the gut microbiome at Stanford Health Care, told Healthline.
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