Digestion and Gut Health
06.07.2021

Microbiome School – What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and How Is It Treated?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder that affects quality of life. Learn about its symptoms, causes, and treatment options.

Microbiome School – What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and How Is It Treated?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that affects a large proportion of the global population. It is characterised by chronic discomforts such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.

Symptoms of the disease tend to come and go and can last for days, weeks or months at a time. However, it is a lifelong disease for which there is no cure. With irritable bowel syndrome, symptoms are treated and, especially with the treatments available, can be kept under control.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

The first symptoms usually start to appear during adolescence (early adulthood) and the disease affects women more often than men (mainly due to hormonal changes). It has been reported that the incidence in women can be up to 1.5 to 3 times higher. The most common symptoms include:

  • pain or cramps in the abdomen,
  • bloating,
  • diarrhoea,
  • constipation,
  • possibly diarrhoea alternating with constipation.

However, other symptoms such as chest pain, back pain, dizziness or fatigue may also occur.

Why does IBS occur?

The process of irritable bowel syndrome is not known to doctors, but we do know that it is a multifactorial disease, that is, it is caused by several factors. The following are reported to influence the predisposition to the disease or its worsening:

It was originally thought that IBS may be primarily caused by, for example, stress or abnormal gut-brain axis interactions. However, recent research suggests the increasing relevance of other factors, such as the gut microbiome and its imbalance (dysbiosis).

It is hypothesised in professional circles that damage to the gut microbiome may lead to activation of the immune system in the gut, possibly causing mild inflammation. This inflammation may then contribute to the development or worsening of IBS symptoms.

However, there are many factors that cause this gut dysbiosis - so it is not easy to identify and eliminate them. However, targeted modification of the microbiome, for example with probiotics, could help.

However, let's look at all the therapeutic modalities that are used in the treatment of IBS.

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

IBS cannot be completely cured - treatment therefore focuses on alleviating the symptoms of the disease in order to keep them under control for as long as possible. In fact, the disease is characterised by alternating periods of improvement and deterioration.

The main therapeutic approaches include dietary modification to avoid triggers, lifestyle changes and the use of medication. Probiotics may also be used as adjunctive therapy to strengthen the microbiome.

Dietary modification in IBS

Dietary therapy is an essential part of the treatment of all patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease. However, symptoms vary from patient to patient and it is therefore essential to think about this when preparing an appropriate diet.

The key is to avoid foods that cause you discomfort. These can be acidic or spicy foods, fried foods, or even milk and dairy products (but this is individual for each person). It is also important to make sure your diet is varied and balanced - it should not be lacking in fibre, vitamins and minerals. It is recommended to consume food in smaller portions five times a day.

Maintaining mental health

Any inflammatory disease of the digestive tract significantly limits the patient's quality of life. Having to miss school or a day at work, discomfort, exhaustion or the frustration of chronic illness can lead to a worsening of the condition. As mentioned above, stress itself exacerbates the disease, so it is advisable to take care of mental health as well. Stress management training, psychological interviewing, psychotherapy or relaxation therapy can help.

Regular exercise, such as walking, jogging, swimming, cycling or yoga, should not be forgotten. Appropriately chosen sports at an appropriate frequency and intensity will reduce stress and promote normal bowel movements.

Taking medication (pharmacological treatment)

The primary goal of therapy should be the non-pharmacological treatment mentioned above. In many cases, however, the use of medication cannot be avoided , and treatment is sharply individualised depending on which symptoms predominate. The most commonly used drugs are antidiarhotics, antispasmodics, psychopharmaceuticals or other medications as appropriate.

Taking probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria that, if taken in adequate amounts, can have beneficial effects on our health. Specifically for irritable bowel syndrome, their use as an adjunctive treatment has been experimented with in recent years and it seems that probiotics can improve digestive processes and support the gut microbiome. So which probiotics to reach for?

Personalised probiotics for each person's individual needs

As mentioned earlier, people with irritable bowel syndrome have different symptoms and manifestations of the disease. Also, there is a wide range of probiotics, with each strain having slightly different effects. Therefore, taking random probiotic mixes from the pharmacy may not make any difference. However, the advantage here is that personalised medicine is advancing and it is now possible to create a probiotic treatment specifically tailored to the individual.

Thanks to molecular analysis, we can find out the exact composition of your gut microbiome and reveal which bacteria are present in excess and which are absent. Thanks to this information, we can mix you a probiotic treatment with only the strains your body really needs.

Don't hesitate to put yourself in the hands of experts who will fix your microbiome. Find out more about our probiotics or contact us with a question, we'll be happy to answer you.

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