{"id":7861,"date":"2025-04-06T12:06:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-06T09:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/?p=7861"},"modified":"2025-04-06T17:35:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T14:35:44","slug":"irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs-and-gut-microbiota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs-and-gut-microbiota\/","title":{"rendered":"Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gut microbiota"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gut microbiota<\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs-symptoms-triggers-and-treatment-options\/\">Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)<\/a> is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and altered bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or both). It affects approximately\u00a010% of the global population, with women being\u00a01.5 times more likely\u00a0to develop IBS than men. The condition often emerges in\u00a0young adulthood\u00a0and again in\u00a0middle to older age, suggesting hormonal and age-related influences.<\/p>\n<p>While the exact cause of IBS remains unclear, research points to a complex interplay of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gut microbiota imbalances<\/li>\n<li>Genetic predisposition<\/li>\n<li>Brain-gut-microbiota axis dysfunction<\/li>\n<li>Environmental factors (stress, diet, infections)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Gut microbiota in IBS patients<\/h2>\n<p>The gut microbiota consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that play crucial roles in digestion, immunity, and mental health. In IBS patients, the gut microbiome often shows:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Reduced microbial diversity (alpha diversity)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Alpha diversity measures the variety and balance of microbial species in the gut<\/li>\n<li>Lower diversity is linked to poorer gut health<\/li>\n<li>IBS patients often have\u00a0fewer beneficial bacteria\u00a0(e.g.,\u00a0<em>Bifidobacterium<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Lactobacillus<\/em>) and\u00a0more harmful bacteria\u00a0(e.g.,\u00a0<em>Bacteroides<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Enterobacteriaceae<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. Decreased butyrate-producing bacteria<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/butyric-acid-supplementation-mitigates-gut-microbiota-disruptions-caused-by-h-pylori-eradication-therapy\/\">Butyrate<\/a>\u00a0is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by gut bacteria.<\/li>\n<li>It helps:\n<ul>\n<li>Maintain the gut barrier, preventing &#8220;leaky gut&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Reduce inflammation<\/li>\n<li>Regulate bowel movements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Low butyrate levels are common in IBS and may worsen symptoms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. Ethnic and dietary variations<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Japanese IBS patients\u00a0tend to have more\u00a0<em>Veillonella<\/em> (a propionic acid producer)<\/li>\n<li>Western IBS patients\u00a0show higher levels of\u00a0<em>Enterobacteriaceae<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>Bacteroides<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Diet plays a key role\u2014high-fiber diets promote butyrate, while processed foods may worsen dysbiosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>IBS subtypes and their microbial links<\/h2>\n<p>IBS is classified into four subtypes based on bowel habits:<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 120px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 169.083px;\">Subtype<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 296.097px;\">Key features<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 439.889px;\">Possible microbial links<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 169.083px;\">IBS-D (Diarrhea)<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 296.097px;\">Frequent loose stools, urgency<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 439.889px;\">Higher\u00a0<em>Enterobacteriaceae<\/em>\u00a0(pro-inflammatory)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 169.083px;\">IBS-C (Constipation)<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 296.097px;\">Hard stools, infrequent bowel movements<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 439.889px;\"><em>Methanobrevibacter smithii<\/em>\u00a0(methane producer slows transit)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 169.083px;\">IBS-M (Mixed)<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 296.097px;\">Alternating diarrhea &amp; constipation<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 439.889px;\">Unclear, possibly fluctuating dysbiosis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 169.083px;\">IBS-U (Unclassified)<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 296.097px;\">Symptoms don\u2019t fit above categories<\/td>\n<td style=\"height: 24px; width: 439.889px;\">More research needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Sex Differences in IBS<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Women are more prone to IBS-C, possibly due to estrogen\u2019s effects on gut motility<\/li>\n<li>Men tend to have IBS-D, possibly linked to dopamine and serotonin differences<\/li>\n<li>Menopausal women often experience worsening IBS, likely due to declining estrogen, which affects gut microbiota diversity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Brain-gut-microbiota axis and pain in IBS<\/h2>\n<p>IBS is considered a\u00a0<strong>nociplastic pain disorder<\/strong>, meaning the brain misinterprets normal gut signals as pain.<\/p>\n<h3>How gut bacteria influence pain<\/h3>\n<ol start=\"1\">\n<li><strong>Leaky Gut &amp; Inflammation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Dysbiosis weakens the gut barrier, allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream<\/li>\n<li>This triggers\u00a0<strong>immune activation<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>chronic low-grade inflammation<\/strong>, worsening pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dopamine &amp; Serotonin Imbalance<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters that affect mood and gut motility<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low dopamine<\/strong>\u00a0(linked to\u00a0<em>Prevotella<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Lactobacillus<\/em> decline) may increase pain sensitivity<\/li>\n<li><strong>Serotonin dysregulation<\/strong> (90% made in the gut) affects bowel movements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Estrogen\u2019s Role in Pain Sensitivity<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>&#8220;Two-hit theory by estrogen&#8221;<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>First hit (puberty):<\/strong> High estrogen increases pain receptor (TRPV1) expression<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second hit (menopause):<\/strong> Falling estrogen increases nerve growth factor (NGF), heightening pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Genetic factors in IBS<\/h2>\n<p>About\u00a0<strong>6 key genes<\/strong>\u00a0are linked to IBS, many overlapping with\u00a0<strong>anxiety and depression<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Gene<\/td>\n<td>Function<\/td>\n<td>Impact on IBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><em>NCAM1, CADM2<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Cell adhesion in nerves &amp; gut<\/td>\n<td>Altered gut-brain signaling, increased permeability<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><em>PHF2\/FAM120A<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Regulates intestinal gene expression<\/td>\n<td>Altered motility, hypersensitivity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><em>DOCK9, CKAP2<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Affects inflammatory responses<\/td>\n<td>Increased gut inflammation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><em>BAG6<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Stress response in gut cells<\/td>\n<td>Poor repair of gut lining<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4>Key Takeaway:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Some IBS symptoms (like gut inflammation) may be\u00a0<strong>genetically driven<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Others (like pain perception) may be more influenced by\u00a0<strong>gut bacteria<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Treatments targeting the gut microbiota<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Probiotics<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Clostridium butyricum<\/strong><\/em> (butyrate-producer) shows promise in reducing inflammation<\/li>\n<li><strong>Multi-strain probiotics<\/strong>\u00a0(e.g.,\u00a0<em>Bifidobacterium<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Lactobacillus<\/em>) may improve gut motility and pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. Dietary changes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>High-fiber foods<\/strong> (oats, bananas) feed butyrate-producing bacteria<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low-FODMAP diet<\/strong> reduces fermentation by harmful bacteria<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Emerging research suggests FMT may\u00a0<strong>restore healthy gut bacteria<\/strong> in severe IBS cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>4. Stress management<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mindfulness, CBT, and exercise<\/strong> can improve gut-brain communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Conclusion &amp; Future directions<\/h2>\n<p>IBS is a\u00a0<strong>complex disorder<\/strong>\u00a0influenced by:<br \/>\n\u2705\u00a0<strong>Gut dysbiosis<\/strong>\u00a0(low butyrate, high harmful bacteria)<br \/>\n\u2705\u00a0<strong>Genetics<\/strong>\u00a0(cell adhesion, inflammation genes)<br \/>\n\u2705\u00a0<strong>Brain-gut miscommunication<\/strong>\u00a0(nociplastic pain)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Future treatments may focus on:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personalized probiotics<\/strong> based on microbiome testing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Drugs targeting dopamine\/serotonin pathways<\/strong> in the gut<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hormonal therapies<\/strong> for women with estrogen-linked IBS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6646 size-full\" title=\"Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gut microbiota\" src=\"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b.webp 1792w, https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b-300x171.webp 300w, https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b-1024x585.webp 1024w, https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b-768x439.webp 768w, https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b-1536x878.webp 1536w, https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/30395469313_9335b43fd9_b-1568x896.webp 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1792px) 100vw, 1792px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Reference<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Nagamine T. The Role of the Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Scoping Review. Medicina (Kaunas) 2024;60:1895.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gut microbiota<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"glossary":[],"class_list":["post-7861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-diseases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7861"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7861"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7870,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7861\/revisions\/7870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7861"},{"taxonomy":"glossary","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/peptiko.gr\/en\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/glossary?post=7861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}