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Gut microbes and IBS

A brief word from Dr Paul Zollinger-Read, Medical Director on irritable bowel syndrome from an article in the New Scientist.

What is IBS?

This is a very common condition; the passing of loose stools, often associated with bloating, cramping abdominal pain, sometimes constipation, and sometimes diarrhoea. IBS affects about 10% of the population.

What new treatment is available for IBS?

Progress has come from an unusual source, faecal transplants. It seems in IBS there is often an imbalance between good and bad gut microbes.

Recent studies have shown that transplanting samples of faeces from individuals thought to have a healthy mix of gut microbes can substantially improve the symptoms in this condition.

The benefit seems to persist, and over two-thirds of those receiving a transplant have significantly reduced symptoms three years on.