Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet And Food Intolerance

Many people are interested in whether IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is caused by food intolerance. The short answer is that food intolerances can cause irritable bowel symptoms, but not every person with IBS will have food intolerances, and at the same time not everyone with a food intolerance will have irritable bowel syndrome. The long answer is a bit more complicated.

A researcher published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has proposed that it’s possible that bacteria is the cause of IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. A surge of bacteria could be present in the small intestine where ordinary bacteria normally found in the large intestine may end up in the small intestine giving rise to the characteristic symptoms of IBS. These symptoms include uncomfortable bloating, gas, and a change in bowel movements, coupled with muscle pain, joint pain, chronic fatigue and headaches. While there are trillions of bacteria in the large intestine, they are usually scarce in the small, thus an influx in the amount of bacteria in the small intestine may account for the signs and symptoms of IBS.

Only a few randomized controlled trials of food intolerance have been reported and in reviewing eight studies of food trial-and-error elimination, five exhibited intolerance while three did not. One big issue concerning these studies is that they involved for the most part patients who believed that food was a problem which could cause a placebo affect. In two trials of food withdrawal, only 15% and 6% of patients were confirmed with the suspected intolerance to food while one found that most patients had reported intolerance that responded to the food withdrawal. However, not any of the patients in these studies were then rechallenged with the food in question.

Lactose intolerance may be the culprit in IBS patients. Approximately 45% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome seem to appear to have lactose malabsorption while only 30% have symptoms with milk products and 52% are improved with withdrawal of milk products. Since the bacterial metabolism in the colon is able to convert the malabsorbed sugar from lactose to metabolites that can be absorbed by the colon, it’s difficult to evaluate lactose intolerance. However, regardless of the trouble of interpretation, these results have directed many people to the proposition that several of the symptoms ascribed to food intolerance are in fact psychological in origin, an assessment that is composited by the observation that gluttony leads to more gastrointestinal ailments.

Fat seems to also be a culprit in IBS. Fat appears to amplify the normal movements in the colon and motivate material through the colon more quickly in IBS sufferers.

While food intolerances are ordinarily found in IBS patients they are found in the general population as well. However they may be more noticeable and severe in a patient with irritable bowel syndrome. The uncovering (through testing) and handling of intolerances with treatment could improve symptoms though the patient is often left with profound residual symptoms that can be characterized by the underlying IBS. A dietetic management of food intolerance is hence an assistant to the treatment of IBS.