Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS afflicts thousands of men and women in the US, though it is more common in women. Treatment of IBS is difficult because of the many factors that can contribute to the symptoms. A new study from Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles has shown success by treating the condition with an antibiotic.
The major symptoms of IBS are increased gas and bloating, alternating constipation and diarrhea, and painful abdominal cramps. Many believe IBS is strongly effected by stress and dietary choices.
The researchers were working on the idea that IBS is caused by an abnormal growth of bacteria in the gut. This unchecked growth causes the GI tract to contract and work ineffectively which results in the most common symptoms of IBS.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this October. A total of 87 men and women completed the study. They were split into two groups. The first group, the treatment group, was given 400 mg of rifaximin three times a day and the second group, the control group, was given a placebo. Each group took their pills for a total of 10 days.
Symptoms were assessed in each person via a questionaire at the onset of the study and weekly for up to 10 weeks after beginning the 'treatment'.
They found that the individuals in the antibiotic treatment group had an improvement in their symptoms during the 10 day treatment course, but that the improvement continued beyond up to the 10th week. This effect was not observed in the placebo group, which showed some improvement during the 10 days of 'treatment' only.
The researchers believe that excess levels of normal bacteria in the gut could be affecting the function of smooth muscle in the digestive tract. The excess bacteria may also be making more gas as a by-product of its own digestion. Treatment with antibiotics may offer new hope for sufferers of IBS, a difficult condition to treat.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on October 30, 2006 12:28 PM
