Managing Intestinal Disorders

If you or someone you love is one of 40-million people in the U.S. suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you will want to tune in for this informative health segment featuring interviews with Board Certified Gastroenterologist and Expert in Functional Bowel Disease Christine Frissora, MD and Medical Scientist Victoria Jaison, PhD. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a complex and commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort associated with altered bowel habits that negatively affect patients’ daily activities and quality of life. Symptoms may include abnormal stool form or frequency, defecation straining, bloating, urgency, feelings of incomplete bowel movement, and passing mucus. Population-based studies indicate that the worldwide prevalence of IBS is approximately 10% to 20%. While the cause of IBS is still largely unknown, a variety of factors have been considered to play a role, including genetics, diet, infections, psycho-social factors, and changes in gut motility or barrier function. Recent studies have also highlighted the potential role of low grade inflammation, often in association with alterations in the microbiota composition or metabolism, which may cause changes in gut barrier function with increased permeability and subsequent malabsorption of nutrients, electrolytes, and water. Such factors or host system changes can lead to alterations in nutritional status, which can further contribute to symptoms. Unfortunately, most therapies that are currently used to manage patients with IBS are aimed at lessening symptoms rather than the underlying cause of the disorder, which has led to an increased interest in multi-modal therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring intestinal balance and nutritional status.