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Review
. 2023 Mar 28;12(7):2558.
doi: 10.3390/jcm12072558.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Gut Microbiome: A Comprehensive Review

Sofia D Shaikh  1 , Natalie Sun  1 , Andrew Canakis  2 , William Y Park  3 , Horst Christian Weber  4   5
Affiliations
Review

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Gut Microbiome: A Comprehensive Review

Sofia D Shaikh et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It has a prevalence of 10 to 25% in the United States and has a high disease burden, as evidenced by reduced quality of life, decreased work productivity and increased healthcare utilization and costs. IBS has been associated with several intra-intestinal and extra-intestinal conditions, including psychiatric comorbidities. Although the pathophysiology of IBS has not been fully elucidated, it involves dysregulation of communication between the brain and gut (brain-gut axis) which is associated with alterations in intestinal motility, gut permeability, visceral hypersensitivity and gut microbiota composition. The purpose of this article is to review the role the gut microbiota plays in the pathophysiology of IBS, understand factors that affect the gut microbiome and explore the microbiome as a target of treatment.

Keywords: FODMAP diet; brain gut axis; fecal microbiota transplantation; gut microbiome; irritable bowel syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Elements in the Pathophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
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