Probiotic Bacteria Produces Potent Analgesic

INSERM: The intestinal microbiota still has surprises in store. The mode of action of a probiotic bacteria used in the symptomatic treatment of pain in irritable bowel syndrome has been revealed in a new study conducted by scientists from Inserm, Université de Toulouse and CHU de Toulouse [1] within the Digestive Health Research Institute (Inserm/INRA/Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, ENVT). The bacteria produces a neurotransmitter (GABA) which, when bound to a lipid, crosses the intestinal barrier, acts on the sensory neurons located in the stomach, and reduces visceral pain. This new class of molecule, combining lipoprotein and GABA, could be used as a painkiller. This research was published in Nature Communication.

Is Fructose Malabsorption a Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Medical-Hypotheses: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that may be marked by abdominal pain, bloating, fullness, indigestion, belching, constipation and/or diarrhea. IBS symptoms can result from malabsorption of fructose. Fructose is a monosaccharide found naturally in small quantities in fruits and some vegetables, and in much larger quantities in industrially manufactured sweeteners and added sugars (e.g. sucrose and high fructose corn syrup). Fructose malabsorption leads to osmotic diarrhea as well as gas and bloating due to fermentation in the colon. A low-fructose diet has been found to improve IBS symptoms in some patients. Fructose ingestion is a possible cause of, and possible dietary treatment strategy for, IBS.

High-tech gas sensing capsules for better gut health

Scimex: Researchers have developed high-tech gas sensing capsules that can send data from inside the gut direct to a mobile phone, opening new possibilities for diagnosis, treatment and health analysis.
Intestinal gases have been linked to colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, and could potentially be used as key biomarkers for assessing overall health.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Author : Dr Uri Ladabaum Professor of Medicine Gastroenterology University of California, San Francisco

2008-08-01

Overview

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is characterized by abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, is the classic “functional” gastrointestinal disorder.  Patients with functional disorders experience symptoms, but no abnormality can be found on physical examination or standard medical tests.  Functional disorders present challenges and can cause frustration for patients as well as doctors.  The lack of a diagnostic test raises the question of how much testing should be done to exclude other conditions that can present with the same symptoms.  Patients with IBS may feel discouraged if they receive messages such as “we don’t know what is wrong,” “nothing is wrong,” or “it is all in your head.”  If a diagnosis of IBS is made, patients may feel uneasy that another serious disease is being missed, but if a focused medical work-up is done, the likelihood of missing other serious underlying disease is very low.  IBS is a chronic condition with symptoms that can wax and wane, and no therapy is universally effective for all IBS patients.  Successful management rests on providing education regarding the current understanding of IBS, reassurance of the good long-term prognosis, a supportive doctor-patient relationship, judicious use of behavior modifications and available therapies, and emphasis on leading as normal a life as possible even if symptoms cannot be eliminated completely.