IBS and antibiotics
So far, no one has come up with a single identifiable cause of IBS and instead, research has shown that a combination of factors can play a role in triggering symptoms of IBS including food intolerances, hormonal influences, an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut and stress.
It is interesting that a proportion of people diagnosed with IBS report that their symptoms began after an infection of the digestive tract such as gastroenteritis. Also, many have experienced a worsening of their IBS symptoms after taking a course of antibiotics. This would certainly suggest that the level of bacteria in the gut has a strong influence on IBS and indeed that is what researchers have found.
When we take antibiotics to treat an infection, the delicate microflora in the gut can become out of balance because antibiotics work by killing all bacteria, including the friendly bacteria that helps to keep our digestive system healthy. This may be why many people have found Probiotic foods and drinks helpful in treating IBS. Ironically, researchers have revealed that antibiotics may actually provide a possible treatment for IBS too.
The Study
A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2003 reported that 35% of those treated with the antibiotic Neomycin experienced an improvement in their IBS symptoms. 111 people with IBS were involved in the study, some with diarrhoea predominant IBS and others with constipation as their most troublesome symptom, each of who were given either a placebo or the antibiotic Neomycin.
Interestingly, 84% of them had abnormal Lactulose breath tests at the beginning of the test, which can indicate an overgrowth of bacteria present in the gut. Although overall there was only a 20% improvement in breath tests, the biggest improvements in IBS symptoms were seen in those whose breath tests were normal after taking the antibiotics.
IBS and the link with bacteria
IBS is common disorder of digestive affecting around 20% of the population. It can people of all ages but is more common in women than in men. There are no tests to detect the presence of IBS, no single identifiable cause of it and no cure. The fact that some people develop IBS after a bout of gastroenteritis suggests that a germ or virus might be responsible for triggering IBS in some people but as yet, no one really knows for sure.
Consequently, treating IBS can be problematic as no two people will be affected in the same way. The indications are that although perhaps not the only cause of IBS, bacterial overgrowth in the gut does play a significant role.
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