Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common disease of the gastrointestinal tract, according to our laboratory. Around 50% of all patients who consult a doctor because of gastrointestinal complaints suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.

However, recognizing whether it really is irritable bowel syndrome can sometimes be somewhat complicated and lengthy, because all possible examinations are usually carried out first in order to rule out other complaints. I will come back to this later in the article.

Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms - abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence and other

Typical signs of irritable bowel syndrome arechronic abdominal pain, which can occur in conjunction withconstipation, diarrhea and flatulence. It is estimated that around 10 - 15% of the population worldwide suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, with women appearing to be more frequently affected.
Irritable bowel syndrome has a hugeimpact on the quality of life of those affected. My customers often describe how they hardly dare to eat anything because they are afraid of getting stomach pains or diarrhea. This is particularly annoying when they are out and about.
Those affected can suffer from being late for appointments, not being able to turn up for work, turning down dinner invitations or leaving a social gathering early. The bloated belly is a constant companion and women are often asked if they are pregnant. This is embarrassing and also takes a toll on self-confidence.
This often leads to considerablepsychological stress! According to studies, 50-60% of IBS patients even suffer from severe psychiatric problems such as anxiety disorders, panic states, social phobias or depression.
The question now, of course, is: what came first? The irritable bowel syndrome or the psychological problems? What is the cause?Or are we looking at a classic chicken and egg question here?

For all those who prefer listening to reading, I am happy to recommend my popular Darmglück podcast. With lots of exciting health topics, tips and tricks for a healthy lifestyle in everyday life and a balanced diet. Listen now to episode 144 Everything you should know about irritable bowel syndrome:

Causes of irritable bowel syndrome - diverse & serious

Irritable bowel syndrome is usually diagnosedby conventional medicine using the rule-out procedure. If all other diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), coeliac disease, Parasites, lactose intolerance etc. can be ruled out, then it is irritable bowel syndrome.
It is also not uncommon for the symptoms to simply belabeled as "psychological" and for those affected to be placed in a "corner" where they do not necessarily belong.
Of course, it makes sense to rule out the presence of the above diseases or complaints, but you will see in the course of this article that there are certainly ways to diagnose irritable bowel syndromewith the help of amicrobiome analysis.

Stress as one of the main causes of irritable bowel syndrome

There is no denying it: Chronic stress promotes the development of irritable bowel syndrome. According to studies, the risk of irritable bowel syndrome doubles if there is an increased level of stress!
This of course explains the statement: "Irritable bowel syndrome is psychological". However, stress does have physical effects:
This is because stress can disrupt the regulation of central pain circuits, as well as negatively altering mobility and permeability throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
By the way, when I talk about stress, I don't necessarily mean a lot of work. Stress can also be caused by anxiety (e.g. financial insecurity), anger (e.g. constant arguments with a colleague or family member), noise, boredom, too little sleep and much more.
Therefore, if your first thought was: "but I don't have any stress", I would recommend taking an honest look at what is going on in your life at the moment and whether you might find stressors that are quietly and secretly pushing your system to the limit without you being aware of it.

Dysbiosis in the gut favors irritable bowel syndrome

As you probably already know by now, trillions of microorganisms live in your gut, they are called the gut microbiome. The majority of these gut bacteria live in harmony with your body and play an important role in the balance of your gut (homeostasis), but also in your general health.
However, if there is an overgrowth of pathogens and thus an imbalance between health-promoting (symbionts) and harmful bacteria (pathogens), known as dysbiosis, this can cause illness.
Dysbiosis is found in a variety of intestinal diseases, but often also in irritable bowel syndrome. In the stool samples of people with irritable bowel syndrome, there is often a reduction in the variety of species of bacteria (diversity). Some studies also point to an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. These are the two large groups of bacteria that have a higher occurrence of bacteroids in healthy people and often have a higher bacteroid ratio in irritable bowel syndrome patients. higher incidence of Firmicutes.
This Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio is a rough indicator of a change in bacterial composition, especially when sufferers complain of flatulence. A meta-analysis found low levels of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in stool samples from irritable bowel syndrome sufferers, together with increased concentrations of Escherichia coli and enterobacteria.
All of this can be determined by molecular genetic microbiome analysis, which I will discuss below.
People with irritable bowel syndrome often also show small intestinal bacterial overgrowth ( SIBO) inthe small intestine. This overgrowth can lead to increased intestinal permeability, subliminal inflammation, impaired intestinal motility or increased production of methane gas in the small intestine. Depending on the type of bacteria that take over in the small intestine. The consequences are, for example, flatulence or constipation.
An increased level of zonulin can often be measured in irritable bowel syndrome, which also indicates a permeable bowel (a so-called leaky gut). You can find more information on this topic in our article Problem case leaky gut - leaky gut syndrome.

The gut-brain axis must also be considered

More and more evidence points to communication between the gutmicrobiome with the intestinal nervous system and the central nervous system. This is called the gut-brain axis.
I recorded an exciting podcast episode with Dr. Florian Bilz from Arktis BioPharma Germany on the topic of the gut-brain axis.
This close communication between the gut and brain suggests that gut bacteria can influence human brain activity indirectly or directly via the gut nervous system. Whether brain function is positively or negatively influenced depends on the bacterial composition.
Neurotransmitters produced in the gut (histamine, GABA, serotonin) play an important role in the development of irritable bowel symptoms, especially abdominal pain, but also flatulence, diarrhea and constipation.
I would like to take a closer look at histamine because it is often a very important factor:

Histamine and its role in irritable bowel

Studies show that an imbalance in the gut, where there is an increased presence of histamine-producing bacteria, has a negative effect on the development and progression of irritable bowel syndrome.
Why is this the case?
Histamine is a The body's own substance that is responsible for important bodily functions such as cell division, the formation of stomach acid, blood formation and much more. However, it also promotes immune reactions in connection with allergies and inflammation.
Histamine has an influence onmotility in the gastrointestinal tract. It increases the permeability of the intestinal mucosa.
If the histamine concentration in the intestine rises, this leads to anincreased inflammatory reaction in the body.Frequently described symptoms of people who have an irritable bowel syndrome with excess histamine are thereforediarrhea, abdominal pain, cramps or flatulence.
Elevated histamine levels do not always have to be due to a dysbiosis in the gut, they can also be caused by stress, a histamine-rich diet or reduced histamine breakdown by the enzyme diaminooxidase (DAO), as we described in our article on histamine intolerance.

Vitamin D deficiency - an often overlooked factor in irritable bowel

Few people know that vitamin D plays an important role in gut health in general, but also in inflammatory processes, as is the case with irritable bowel syndrome.

Known as the sun hormone, vitamin D strengthens the mucosal barrier, controls immune responses in the body and also has an antimicrobial effect itself.

Vitamin D deficiency is not as rare as you might think these days! According to our laboratory, people with irritable bowel syndrome often have low vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D deficiency definitely promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, which damage the barrier function of the mucous membrane and downregulate the formation of so-called tight junction proteins (TJP). Tight junctions are the compounds in the intestinal mucosa that, put simply, seal the intestinal barrier and prevent unwanted substances from entering the bloodstream and lymph.

Vitamin D can also interact directly with intestinal bacteria and improve an existing imbalance in the intestinal flora. Useful intestinal bacteria are strengthened, while less welcome germs are inhibited.

You can findinteresting facts about vitamin D in another blog article and hopefully you can see from this that it is worth measuring your vitamin D level in the blood from time to time and supplementing vitamin D if you have a deficiency.

For all those who prefer listening to reading, I am happy to recommend my popular Darmglück podcast. With lots of exciting health topics, tips and tricks for a healthy lifestyle in everyday life and a balanced diet. Now in episode 60 Irritable bowel syndrome - What it is and how you can calm your bowels again listen in:

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Irritable bowel syndrome therapy - what you can do

As you have probably realized by now, there are various causes and manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome. That's why the most important thing when choosing a therapy is to have the causes clarified by a qualified therapist.
Here, on a physical level, amolecular genetic stool analysis (microbiome analysis) is recommended.
To decide which values should be taken, we recommend that you work with aholistic intestinal specialist. It should be a person who is familiar with functional therapy in general and microbiome analysis in particular, and who also takes into account things like diet, attitude and lifestyle. If you need recommendations from therapists in Switzerland, please feel free to contact us.
However, to show you which ones we generally recommend, here is a list of what is ideally measured in a microbiome analysis:

• pH value in the gut
• Bacterial diversity
• Composition of the large bacterial groups (bacterial distribution)
• Dysbiosis index
• Bacterial phyla with the most important genera and species (e.g. bifidobacteria, butyrate formers, clostridia)
• Pathogenic or potentially pathogenic bacteria
• Immunogenic bacteria
• Mucosal build-up
• Inflammation of the intestinal mucosa
• Yeasts / molds (e.g. Candida)
• Parasites
• Digestive residues
• zonulin
• tryptophan
• histamine

For example, our laboratory now also offers an irritable bowel syndrome profile that detects relevant neurotransmitters and metabolic products in stabilized stool and thus offers opportunities for targeted therapeutic approaches. In addition to histamine and tryptophan (which we have already listed above), serotonin and GABA are also detected.Once it has been determined whether your symptoms are related to a histamine problem, an inflamed intestinal mucosa or a leaky gut, for example, whether a Dysbiosis is present or the pH value is also shifted, then therapy follows with a diet adapted to the situation, stress-reducing measures and supplementation with suitable supplements such as probiotics, prebiotics and micronutrients.

Irritable bowel syndrome diet - what should I eat and what shouldn't I eat?

Conventional medicine usually recommendsthe so-calledFODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for "fermentable oligo-, di- and monosaccharides and polyols".
With this diet, you avoid carbohydrates that are fermented/fermented as well as dairy products and fermentable, sugary foods. In our experience, this diet is quite difficult to follow in everyday life and does not bring the desired relief for everyone, but it can certainly be tried for a few weeks.
Personally, however, I recommend simply switchingto agut-friendly diet, as I generally recommend for gut health.
This meansfresh, real food (no ready meals or industrially produced food),as little sugar and alcohol as possible,eating only 3 times a day(no snacks between meals),not too many carbohydrates such as pasta, rice etc.
If you have irritable bowel syndrome, I would also recommendavoiding wheat and dairy productsandonly eating very limited fruit (if at all), as well asavoiding raw vegetables and not using too much spice.
Soupy, long-cooked dishesare recommended, including porridge for breakfast, and regular chicken broth is also highly recommended. Moro's carrot soup has also proved effective for diarrhea.
If, as explained above, histamine is also a problem, then you should also pay attention to a low-histamine diet, which has really proved very effective in practice.
I am aware that a change in diet is often quite a change and can be quite stressful, especially at the beginning.Without a change in diet, however, intestinal therapy will never be successful in the long term. It is absolutely essential.
The good news is that you don't need to change your diet forever, but 3-6 months is often enough. The more consistent you are at the beginning, the easier it will be and the quicker the effect will be a.
In addition to your diet, it is very helpful if yousupportthe intestines a little withsuitable supplements, I will give you a few suggestions below:

Irritable bowel syndrome treatment with dietary supplements - Discover the premium quality of Arktis BioPharma now

It is extremely important to avoid additives or preservatives, especially in the case of intestinal complaints. That's why we attach so much importance to the high quality of our products! We only use raw materials from Europe and have the quality confirmed by independent institutions and laboratories.
With us, everything that is in the product is on the label. We do not use unnecessary additives, fillers or preservatives.
Here are my favorites when it comes to irritable bowel syndrome:

• Arktibiotic SENSITIVESpecially developed to reduce histamine production in the gut and also very suitable for people with intolerances
• or alternatively, if there is no histamine problem, Arktibiotic COMPENS to provide your gut with good bacteria and soothe digestion
• Colostrum STRONG to support the immune system and as a supplier of high-quality minerals and amino acids to do something good for your intestinal mucosa
• L-glutamine is an important amino acid for building up the intestinal mucosa, because as described in the text, irritable bowel syndrome is often associated with a permeable intestine
• If flatulence is involved, our BITTERELIXIER is a good choice, as bitter substances help you to positively influence the pH value and also support the liver
• Irritable bowel syndrome is often caused by a lack of butyrate formers and Acacia fibers GROW as an ideal food to resettle these butyrate formers in the intestine. These prebiotic fibers are ideal food for good intestinal bacteria.
• Research into the effects of CBD is still ongoing. However, studies suggest that CBD can have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve pain and produce calming and anxiety-relieving effects
• In the article, I also discussed the importance of vitamin D for irritable bowel syndrome, for which we have our VITAD3 Liquid

You don't necessarily need all of these products for better gut health. If you have read this article carefully, you will certainly recognize which one is your way to a calmer digestion. Choose the products that suit your symptoms.If you sign up for our newsletter, you will receive a 10% discount on your first order in our online store.

For all those who prefer listening to reading, I would like to recommend my popular Darmglück podcast. With lots of exciting health topics, tips and tricks for a healthy lifestyle in everyday life and a balanced diet. Listen now to episode 8 From irritable bowel syndrome to burnout and then to a heart project - interview with Lena Bopp from Lenatura:

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Irritable bowel syndrome conclusion: take time to identify the causes and then tackle the problems in a targeted, consistent and holistic way

I hope this article has encouraged you! I have tried to show you a viable way to lead a carefree life with a well-functioning digestive system.
In my view, it is important to have a gooddiagnostic clarification and then a strategy that elements of nutrition, intestinal rehabilitation with suitable supplements and lifestyle measures. taken into account.
I couldn 't go into lifestyle measures in detail in this article because that would go beyond the scope! Stress reduction is definitely an important part of the fight against irritable bowel syndrome. Things like hypnosis, bodywork, meditation, organization and time in nature can be helpful components. It is also important to reduce other stressors for the body such as toxins in cosmetics and clothing, screen time on TV, computer and cell phone and mental issues such as existential fears, worries about the future or arguments.
Leave a commentbelow this article if you have any questions, or get in touch in our live chat. I know that irritable bowel syndrome is a complex issue!