"Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 20% of adults in the Western world. It is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder of function that has a significant impact on quality of life. In fact, it is second only to the common cold as a cause for absenteeism--ie, individuals with IBS are roughly 3 times more likely to be absent from work or school 'than those without it.]...

"A gender difference in the prevalence of IBS has been reported in most of the Western world, with affected females outnumbering affected males by at least 2:1. In part, this discrepancy may be due to differences in healthcare-seeking behavior--in India, for example, men seek medical assistance more often than do females. In both sexes, however, symptoms of IBS are typically expressed in young adulthood, and it is generally a lifelong ailment."

Our Comment. The above was from an establishment publication, Medscape, and represents conventional medicine's difficulty in dealing with certain diseases, as for example, asthma. In the latter case, generally only the symptoms are treated without an attempt to get at the root cause. Let us examine the medical and scientific literature to possibly see what is being done in advanced practice for IBS, if anything.

Much of the research appears to point to a psychosomatic basis for the disease. Depression (bi-polar disease) may be a basic cause for IBS's origination. Could any foods and/or nutrients be helpful? We plough on...

"Fifty-one healthy adults (40 females, 11 males) participated in this study. No effects on gastric emptying or colonic transit were identified with any agent 'tested.] Small bowel transit of a solid meal was accelerated by paroxetine. Buspirone decreased 'post-meal] aggregate symptom and nausea scores. Venlafaxine-XR increased the 'post-meal] change in gastric volume...

"These data support the need for clinical and psychological studies of these agents in functional gastrointestinal disorders." 'Which seemed to say that they are unproven in patients.]

Most reports were based on 5-HT re-uptake inhibitors (seratonin,) since bi-polar manifestations are often present.

"Depending on the leading symptoms...'treatment] may range from laxatives to probiotics 'acidophilus, as in yogurt,] anticholinergics or 'spasm relievers]...to 5-HT 3/HT4 receptor antagonists 'similar effect as re-uptake inhibitors]..."

"Most 5-HT (1A) agonists are indeed readily absorbed but are also rapidly eliminated, thereby often producing either suboptimal therapeutic responses at low doses, or cumbersome adverse effects at higher doses. Extended-release formulations allow once-daily dosing regimens, thus avoiding sharp peak 'blood] concentrations."

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, How it Originates, How it's Being Treated, What Foods Can Help Bibliography

Am. Journal of Gastro. & Liver Physiology. Chial, Camilieri, Burton et al., Clinical Enteric Neuroscionce & Epidem. Res. Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55905. Vol. 284, 2003.

Fliegner-Baia, Keller & Layer, Med. Klinik, Stadtspital Triemli, CH-8063 Zurich, Switz., in MMW Fortschr. Med., vol. 17, 2001.

Blier, Ward, Depts. Psychiatry and Neuroscience, U. of Florida Brain Inst., Gainesville, Florida. In Brain Psy., Vol. 1, 2003.