Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be debilitating condition consisting of cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. IBS can affect and one’s work, sleep and relationships.
A variety of factors have been associated with IBS such as genetic susceptibility, infections, small bowel intestinal overgrowth, deficiencies in tight junction proteins, intestinal abnormalities with bile acid metabolism, changes in GI motility, visceral hypersensitivity, dysregulation of the interaction between the CNS and enteric nervous system, as well as psychosocial factors.
One may need a combination of botanicals, enzymes, and probiotics to optimize the gastrointestinal environment. Certain diagnostic tests may also be beneficial, including stool testing as well as food antibody testing.
Recent studies demonstrated the potential role of low-grade inflammation associated with alterations in the gut microbiome, which can contribute to intestinal barrier dysfunction affecting absorption of water and nutrients as well as an increase antigenic exposure with immune activation leading to further intestinal inflammation and gastrointestinal symptoms.
According to a study published 3 weeks ago in Physiological Reports, researchers evaluated the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of SBI in patients with IBS-D. A number of studies have suggested a potential role for serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate (SBI) as a potential therapy for IBS-D.
This study included fifteen patients with IBS-D base on Rome III criteria that were given SBI twice daily for 8 weeks. Researchers assessed GI symptoms and collected plasma and stool samples to evaluate tryptophan metabolism, intestinal permeability, intestinal microbiota, and expression of genes for tight junction proteins, secretory mechanisms, tissue repair proteins, and chemokines.
As a result, researchers demonstrated that GI symptoms improved over 8 weeks with SBI therapy. These findings are consistent with previous research shown with SBI improving GI symptoms in patients with IBS-D. In addition, the duodenal microbiome showed considerable structure changes with increases in the abundance of Proteobacteria Burkholderiales and Firmicutes Catonella to suggest that the small intestinal microbiome is altered after therapy with SBI and this may play a role in improving epithelial barrier function and modulating immune activation.
By Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, CNS
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