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Review
. 2023 Sep 22;11(10):2369.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11102369.

Gut Dysbiosis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Narrative Review on Correlation with Disease Subtypes and Novel Therapeutic Implications

Maria Napolitano  1 , Ernesto Fasulo  1 , Federica Ungaro  1   2 , Luca Massimino  1   2 , Emanuele Sinagra  3 , Silvio Danese  1   4 , Francesco Vito Mandarino  1
Affiliations
Review

Gut Dysbiosis in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Narrative Review on Correlation with Disease Subtypes and Novel Therapeutic Implications

Maria Napolitano et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. It can be subclassified in different subtypes according to the main clinical manifestation: constipation, diarrhea, mixed, and unclassified. Over the past decade, the role of gut microbiota in IBS has garnered significant attention in the scientific community. Emerging research spotlights the intricate involvement of microbiota dysbiosis in IBS pathogenesis. Studies have demonstrated reduced microbial diversity and stability and specific microbial alterations for each disease subgroup. Microbiota-targeted treatments, such as antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and even diet, offer exciting prospects for managing IBS. However, definitive conclusions are hindered by the heterogeneity of these studies. Further research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms, developing microbiome-based diagnostics, and enabling personalized therapies tailored to an individual's microbiome profile. This review takes a deep dive into the microscopic world inhabiting our guts, and its implications for IBS. Our aim is to elucidate the complex interplay between gut microbiota and each IBS subtype, exploring novel microbiota-targeted treatments and providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge.

Keywords: IBS; gut; irritable bowel syndrome; microbiota; microflora; subtype IBS-C; subtype IBS-D.

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Conflict of interest statement

S Danese served as a speaker, consultant, and advisory board member for Schering-Plow, Abbott (AbbVie) Laboratories, Merck, UCB Pharma, Ferring, Cellerix, Millenium Takeda, Nycomed, Pharmacosmos, Actelion, Alfa Wasserman, Genentech, Grunenthal, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Vifor, and Johnson and Johnson. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Main risk factors in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Main microflora alterations in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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