Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Good idea! Unfortunately, IBS is a syndrome with no know organic cause as of yet.

There are many theories as to what causes IBS. Some of them don't involve the nervous system directly some do. Some theories propose that colonic bacteria which embedded themselves in the intestinal mucosa may have been damaged by antibiotics or diseases resulting in the reduce production of fermentation by-products that effect the GI tract motility. For example, the production of methane gas is known to change the motility of the bowel. The more methane produced the slower the bowel moves and the more C an individual may experience. Or reduced populations of certain colonic bacteria can result in a loss of the ability to deal with bile salts. Some Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria bacteria are able to deconjugate and absorb bile acids, potentially reducing the colonic mucosal secretion of mucin and fluids that may contribute to IBS with diarrhea. You can read more about this in the reference below.

Stem cells can only work if you know which stem cells to use. Since IBS is still a big black hole it will probably be some time before anyone knows if stem cells are a possible way to manage IBS. It is possible that probiotics may show more promise than stem cells. We just have to wait and see

Reference
Andresen, V. and D. C. Baumgart, 2006: Role of probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: Potential mechanisms and current clinical evidence . International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics, 1, 11-18.

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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS

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