Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor GIMM
Published on: December 1, 2010
Motility abnormalities in irritable bowel syndrome
Andrew W DuPont1, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Stephen A Harold
1The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Tex., USA.
Background/Aims:
The intestinal pathophysiology in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is largely unknown. The lactulose breath test has been used to identify small bowel bacterial overgrowth in these patients.
Methods:
We studied intestinal transit in patients with IBS using of the SmartPill® (SP) wireless pH/pressure recording capsule and performed lactulose breath tests to look for physiologic abnormalities.
Results:
A total of 35/46 (76%) of the IBS patients had prolonged gastric emptying times. Constipation-predominant disease was associated with prolonged gut transit times. The mean hours ± SD for colonic transit time in the constipation group was 71.7 ± 61.1 (n = 13) compared with 22.5 ± 14.9 (n = 14) for diarrhea-predominant and 26.4 ± 21.5 (n = 20) for mixed clinical subtype (p = 0.0010). No correlation between small bowel transit time and abnormal breath hydrogen or methane excretion in the 46 combined patients with IBS was seen.
Conclusions:
Delayed gastric emptying was identified in IBS and in some patients may contribute to at least a component of their symptoms. Constipation-predominant IBS is associated with prolonged gut transit times. Otherwise, transit abnormalities do not appear to be important in IBS. Intestinal transit did not correlate with breath test results.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
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...
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:
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists
Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

