Relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and food intolerances
Written by:Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel rhythm. There is no cause to justify it.
From the Foodcare team we want to draw attention to the relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and food intolerances. There is increasing scientific evidence that both pathologies occur in more patients.
Irritable bowel syndrome
According to specialists in Allergology , irritable bowel syndrome may be associated with multiple factors, such as psychological, genetic or hormonal; but more and more evidence linking it to food intolerances. Mainly there are two:
- Non-celiac gluten sensitivity , which is not the same as celiac disease. The fundamental basis of the diagnosis is a diet similar to that of celiac disease.
- Fructose intolerance. 30% of the population suffers it, which could also explain the high number of cases of people with irritable bowel. Fructose, in our opinion, is the key element of this syndrome and exclusion diets achieve the resolution of symptoms and discomfort.
In fact, in many patients with irritable bowel syndrome, a food intolerance is confirmed mainly to fructose; they suffer at the time an allergic process and / or atopy in a percentage close to 65%.
There is evidence that both food allergy and atopy may be relevant processes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome .
Food intolerance behind the irritable bowel
In our opinion, the key is in the intestinal microbiota. Imbalances in the intestinal flora are associated with food intolerances , which in turn, are behind irritable bowel syndrome, justifying some of its symptoms.
There is much to investigate in this field, but it seems a reality that almost all patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome really suffer from a food intolerance that needs to be diagnosed.
This comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach is the way we work in Foodcare with all our patients.
