Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition consisting of cramping abdominal pain bloating gas diarrhea and constipation. IBS is often debilitating and can affect many aspects of a persons life including their work sleep and relationships.
A variety of factors have been associated with IBS such as genetic susceptibility infections small bowel intestinal overgrowth deficiencies in tight junction proteins intestinal abnormalities with bile acid metabolism changes in GI motility visceral hypersensitivity dysregulation of the interaction between the CNS and enteric nervous system and even psychosocial factors.
An individual with IBS may need a combination of botanicals enzymes and probiotics to optimize the gastrointestinal environment. Certain diagnostic tests may also be beneficial including stool testing as well as food antibody testing.
Recent studies demonstrated the potential role of low-grade inflammation associated with alterations in the gut microbiome which can contribute to intestinal barrier dysfunction affecting absorption of water and nutrients as well as an increase antigenic exposure with immune activation leading to further intestinal inflammation and gastrointestinal symptoms.
A new study published three weeks ago in Physiological Reports evaluated the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate (SBI) in patients with IBS-D. A number of studies have suggested a potential role for SBI as a potential therapy for IBS-D.
This study included fifteen patients with IBS-D base on Rome III criteria that were given SBI twice daily for eight weeks. Researchers assessed GI symptoms and collected plasma and stool samples to evaluate tryptophan metabolism intestinal permeability intestinal microbiota and expression of genes for tight junction proteins secretory mechanisms tissue repair proteins and chemokines.
As a result researchers demonstrated that GI symptoms improved over eight weeks with SBI therapy. These findings are consistent with previous research where SBI improved GI symptoms in patients with IBS-D. In addition the duodenal microbiome showed considerable structure changes with increases in the abundance of Proteobacteria Burkholderiales and Firmicutes Catonella. This suggests that the small intestinal microbiome is altered after therapy with SBI and this may play a role in improving epithelial barrier function and modulating immune activation.
By Michael Jurgelewicz DC DACBN DCBCN CNS
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