Does Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Exist?

Experts at the British College of Nutrition and Health suggest IBS may not exist.

A really interesting (and exciting!) review of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has just been published. It considers whether or not IBS truly exists! 

In the review, the author, Ben Brown (Brown, 2019), explains how IBS is not one disease but an umbrella term or ‘catch-all’ for multiple identifiable and treatable digestive symptoms which may be triggered by a combination of nutritional and lifestyle factors. 

While symptoms may include excessive gas, bloating, and chronic diarrhoea or constipation, researchers found that it may not be one condition but a whole range of them. This is why the author poses the question ‘Does IBS exist?’ because it is rarely one thing. 

Sadly, what frequently happens is people get labelled as IBS sufferers and told ‘there’s not much we can do about it’. However, doing this doesn’t address the underlying issue or issues and by clustering multiple digestive symptoms under one label risks “lazy thinking” and delays recovery. 

Have you been told that you 'just have to live with IBS'?

The paper explores multiple nutritional factors that could be underlying IBS including:

1. Nutritional factors
2. Lifestyle and environmental factors
3. Functional imbalances, for example:

• leaky gut
• pancreatic enzyme deficiency
• chronic constipation
• low-grade inflammation

These are all things nutritional therapy can provide support for.  Find out how nutritional therapy could help you if you have IBS in my blog post here.

Nutritional Therapy could help you identify the root causes. 

Brown concludes that personalisation of treatment, including diet and nutritional support, is essential for supporting people with IBS because everyone will respond differently. He outlines potential management and treatment approaches, including nutritional therapies as a way to address the root causes of imbalance. Find out more here. 

Here's a link to the review

Brown, B. (2019). Does Irritable Bowel Syndrome Exist? Identifiable and Treatable Causes of Associated Symptoms Suggest It May Not. [online] Gastrointestinal disorders. Available at: http://bit.ly/Does-IBS-Exist [Accessed 5 Aug. 2019].

Important 'Red Flags' to watch out for.

Please be aware that IBS must be diagnosed by a medical doctor so that serious disease can be ruled out. And if you experience any of the following please consult your doctor urgently:

• Very dark stools or blood in the stool
• Unexplained weight loss
• Anaemia
• A family history of ovarian or colon cancer
• A sudden change in bowel movements
• Are over the age of 50.

Explore the 5-stages of gut healing at my 'Learn to Love your Gut' event this September. 

Find out  more and book your place now.