Foods (Jan 2018)

The Role of Bacteria, Probiotics and Diet in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Ashton Harper,
  • Malwina M. Naghibi,
  • Davinder Garcha

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods7020013
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 2
p. 13

Abstract

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Irritable bowel syndrome is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder that threatens the quality of life of millions and poses a substantial financial burden on healthcare systems around the world. Intense research into the human microbiome has led to fascinating discoveries which directly and indirectly implicate the diversity and function of this occult organ in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pathophysiology. The benefit of manipulating the gastrointestinal microbiota with diet and probiotics to improve symptoms has been demonstrated in a wealth of both animal and human studies. The positive and negative mechanistic roles bacteria play in IBS will be explored and practical probiotic and dietary choices offered.

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