Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 May-Jun;5(3):419-29.
doi: 10.4161/gmic.29417. Epub 2014 Jun 12.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis in functional gastrointestinal disorders

Giada De Palma  1 , Stephen M Collins  1 , Premysl Bercik  1
Affiliations
Review

The microbiota-gut-brain axis in functional gastrointestinal disorders

Giada De Palma et al. Gut Microbes. 2014 May-Jun.

Abstract

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are highly prevalent and pose a significant burden on health care and society, and impact patients' quality of life. FGIDs comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders, with unclear underlying pathophysiology. They are considered to result from the interaction of altered gut physiology and psychological factors via the gut-brain axis, where brain and gut symptoms are reciprocally influencing each other's expression. Intestinal microbiota, as a part of the gut-brain axis, plays a central role in FGIDs. Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a prototype of FGIDs, display altered composition of the gut microbiota compared with healthy controls and benefit, at the gastrointestinal and psychological levels, from the use of probiotics and antibiotics. This review aims to recapitulate the available literature on FGIDs and microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Keywords: IBS; anxiety; depression; functional gastrointestinal disorders; gut-brain axis; microbiota.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Drossman DA. The functional gastrointestinal disorders and the Rome III process. Gastroenterology. 2006;130:1377–90. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2006.03.008. - DOI - PubMed
    1. D’Amato M. Genes and functional GI disorders: from casual to causal relationship. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2013;25:638–49. doi: 10.1111/nmo.12173. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Drossman DA. Abuse, trauma, and GI illness: is there a link? Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106:14–25. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2010.453. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Levy RL, Olden KW, Naliboff BD, Bradley LA, Francisconi C, Drossman DA, Creed F. Psychosocial aspects of the functional gastrointestinal disorders. Gastroenterology. 2006;130:1447–58. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2005.11.057. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Geeraerts B, Van Oudenhove L, Fischler B, Vandenberghe J, Caenepeel P, Janssens J, Tack J. Influence of abuse history on gastric sensorimotor function in functional dyspepsia. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2009;21:33–41. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2008.01178.x. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms