Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
10:37
Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
Published on: November 30, 2016
Celiac disease and irritable bowel-type symptoms
Clare O'Leary1, Peter Wieneke, Sarah Buckley
1Department of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Cork.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 4, 2002
Summary
Celiac disease patients show a higher prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-type symptoms. Adherence to a gluten-free diet offers some improvement in quality of life for these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Dietary Medicine
Background:
- Previous research suggests a link between mucosal inflammation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Celiac disease, characterized by gluten-induced enteropathy, presents a unique model to study this association.
- The predisposition to functional bowel disorders in celiac disease remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of IBS-type symptoms in adult celiac patients.
- To investigate the correlation between IBS symptoms and adherence to a gluten-free diet.
- To assess the impact of IBS on quality of life in celiac patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 150 adult celiac patients and 162 controls were surveyed.
- Participants completed bowel questionnaires and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36).
- Dietary compliance with gluten exclusion was assessed in celiac patients.
Main Results:
- 20% of celiac patients met Rome criteria for IBS, compared to 5% in controls.
- No statistically significant difference in IBS prevalence was found based on gluten-free diet compliance.
- Celiac patients with IBS reported significantly lower quality of life across all domains.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that celiac disease inflammation may predispose to IBS-type symptoms.
- Suboptimal well-being is common in celiac patients, especially those with coexisting IBS.
- Gluten-free diet adherence provides partial benefits to quality of life.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of chronic disorders marked by recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract due to an abnormal immune response against gut microflora. This leads to tissue damage. The two main forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn’s disease is a relapsing inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. It involves all layers of the bowel wall (transmural) and shows “skip lesions” in which...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...
01:23Irritable Bowel Syndrome
DefinitionIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent combinations of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndromeIts pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving disturbances in motility, sensory processing, microbial balance, barrier integrity, and gut–brain communication. These mechanisms interact to produce symptoms that vary across IBS subtypes.Altered Motility PatternsDisordered...