What causes irritable bowel syndrome?
The exact cause is currently unknown. Nor are there any tests that can diagnose it.
Considered a multifactorial disorder, the tests performed can exclude other causes for the symptoms.
There are several theories to explain the causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):
- There is intestinal dysbiosis, increased intestinal permeability and microinflammation in the intestinal wall. Thus, in many cases IBS appears after an infection in the digestive tract. This alteration of the wall affects the enteric and central nervous system through the intestine-brain axis.
- It is a colon motility disorder: some patients present vigorous colon contractions, hence the term spastic colon, which produces pain, alterations in digestive motility and therefore in intestinal rhythm (constipation, diarrhea and alternating rhythm).
- There is a visceral hypersensitivity: thus the colon is more sensitive to gas and normal movements that the patient perceives as pain.
- Stress and anxiety worsen the symptomatology and can act as triggers, but are not the cause of this pathology.
- Food intolerances: some foods can trigger pain or worsen the symptoms. They are usually foods that are difficult to digest (dairy products, fats) or that increase intestinal gas (sugars, carbonated beverages).
What symptoms does it usually cause?
The main symptom of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is abdominal pain accompanied by changes in the frequency and/or consistency of bowel movements, presenting episodes of diarrhea or constipation.
It is a disorder that occurs in “flares” with periods of symptoms alternating with periods of symptom remission.
What is the best treatment for irritable bowel syndrome?
Treatment should be aimed at relieving symptoms during periods of exacerbation and reducing these periods, both in number and intensity, improving the patient’s quality of life.
The best treatment for IBS is based on acting at two fundamental levels:
- Modifying hygienic dietary habits.
- Addressing therapeutic targets: intestinal microbiota, intestinal permeability, visceral hypersensitivity, brain-gut axis.
What are the most appropriate foods to reduce the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome?
The objectives of nutritional treatment are to ensure adequate nutrient intake and to individualize the diet according to each patient’s clinical condition.
- It is important to have a diet as varied as possible.
- Maintain a fixed schedule of meals and bowel habits.
- Increase water consumption.
- A healthy diet low in fat, rich in fruit and vegetables, as complete as possible and individualized for each patient.
What foods should people with an inflamed colon avoid?
There are no forbidden or bad foods. As a general rule, large meals and certain foods, such as excessive amounts of fats, caffeine, lactose, fructose, processed sugars, sorbitol and alcohol, tend to be poorly tolerated.
Also, excessive consumption of fiber or very flatulent foods should be avoided, reduce the amount, but do not exclude them from the diet. Exclusion diets, i.e. eliminating foods such as lactose, gluten, etc. from the diet without prior assessment by an expert, should not be performed.
Any exclusion diet (Fodmap) should be carried out under the control of a nutritionist and should not be exceeded in time.