Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
No one will give you a specific cause of IBS. IBS is a motility disorder some experts say. A hyperactive or oversensitive gut is another possible cause of IBS. and the gut will react to changes influenced by stress, food and hormones.
With the typical chaotic bowel habit of IBS, it is not surprising that it is thought of as a motility disorder. There is an abnormality in the transit time of ingested food.
Sometimes it is slower than normal causing constipation and other times it is faster causing diarrhoea. There are two types of IBS, diarrhoea predominant and constipation predominant. Some have diarrhoea and constipation alternating. Stools in IBS can vary from hard pellets to watery and unformed.
Some say there is a link between diet and IBS.
IBS symptoms can be triggered by certain foods. Just eating food stimulates intestinal muscle activity. This is the Gastro-Colic reflex and develops in response to food entering the stomach. Gastro-Colic reflex in IBS is strongest after fatty or large meals. This results in abdominal pains and or diarrhoea.
Food is not a cause of IBS but can trigger symptoms.
One suggestion is that the fault that results in IBS resides in the Nervous System. The gut has a complex network of brain cells called the Enteric Nervous System. This “Brain of the Gut” is connected to the Brain. To understand IBS, experts think you need to understand how the Enteric Nervous System works.
The highest level of serotonin, a neuro-chemical is found in the gut. At present a lot of research is focused on gut serotonin receptors.
Serotonin affects the nerves in the intestine and controls contractions of the smooth muscles of the gut. Low levels of serotonin lead to constipation and higher than normal levels cause diarrhoea.
Psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and depression can affect the gut. In addition psychological trauma such as physical, emotional and sexual abuse can affect the gut. Statistics show that there is a greater incidence of psychological trauma and disturbances in IBS. It is suggested that in addition to treating the IBS, treating the other issues will give better long-term results.
Gastroenteritis as a cause of IBS: Between 20-30% of patients who develop severe gastroenteritis will go on to develop IBS. Escherichia coli, Salmonella shigella and Camplobacter jejuni are the most common organisms involved. Serotonin levels in gastro-enteritis is very high and in cases that develop IBS this high level continues.
In women with IBS, the hormones progesterone and estrogen vary during the menstrual cycle and the symptoms may fluctuate. These hormones can affect the colon and the passage of residue along the gut. In some women IBS is worse at certain stage of their cycle.
Prof. Jonathan Brostoff of Middlesex Hospital believes that yeast is involved in some cases of IBS. An overgrowth of Candida occurs when there is reduced levels of good bacteria, Lactobacilli and Bifidobactreia.
