Gut Microbiota Manipulation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Disturbed gut microbiota (dysbiosis) is increasingly linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) development.
• Gut microbiota manipulation has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for IBS.
• Dietary interventions and antibiotics are current approaches, with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) gaining attention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current strategies for gut microbiota manipulation in IBS treatment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of dietary management, antibiotics, and FMT for IBS.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies on dietary fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, rifaximin, and FMT in IBS.
• Analysis of effects on gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acids, and enteroendocrine cells.
• Assessment of symptom improvement and safety data.

Main Results:

• Dietary interventions (fiber, prebiotics, probiotics) alter gut microbiota and improve IBS symptoms.
• Rifaximin is approved for diarrhea-predominant IBS, but requires further confirmation.
• FMT shows promising results in multiple trials for IBS symptom reduction and microbiota modulation.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota manipulation offers a promising avenue for IBS treatment.
• Dietary strategies are established, while FMT requires more extensive research on long-term effects and standardization.
• Personalized approaches to microbiota modulation are essential for effective IBS management.