For Patients with IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic bowel disorder of functional nature. This means that, despite the constant presence of bothersome and relapsing symptoms such as constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and abdominal pain, tests do not reveal any "real" organic causes.

IBS patients suffer from ongoing symptoms that greatly affect their daily lives. Despite doctors' assurances that this condition does not increase the risk of cancer or IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), they often suffer "in silence" as they feel their distress is not fully appreciated and addressed. Usually, patients fail to receive a formal diagnosis for a long time, unless their symptoms become so difficult to manage that they are forced to consult a doctor.

What causes IBS?

It's hard to pinpoint a single cause of IBS! IBS may be triggered by intestinal infections (post-infectious IBS) or precipitated by major life events that cause considerable stress. Poor dietary choices, excess of alcohol, coffee and spices may also be a culprit. IBS symptoms and psychological distress are closely related, but that doesn't mean the condition is simply in the patient's "head".

To emphasize how closely connected the nervous and digestive systems are, these intestinal issues are now known as gut-brain disorders (1) {Gut brain image graphics}

IBS is known to be exacerbated by disturbances in the gut microbiome, which refers to the number and type of microorganisms living there. IBS cannot be directly linked to any one bug, but certain bacterial species and/or their associations aggravate symptoms and cause flare-ups (2)

Bacterial Functional Gut Test (BFGT) results: what do they tell you?

Based on scientific research, the GutID BFGT identifies bacteria strongly linked to IBS or other functional intestinal disorders. GutID doesn't just tell you if your gut has too many "bad bacteria" or too few "good bacteria", it shows which areas will be negatively affected by this imbalance (dysbiosis).

For example, you'll see if bacteria that metabolize bile acids or short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) or have probiotic effects are out of range. In fact, you might not just have too many bad bacteria but also too many potentially good ones causing your symptoms. It's all about balance in your gut! (we may add pics showing specific sections of the report)

The GutID BFGT also identifies bacteria that cause SIBO (small intestinal overgrowth) and analyzes the presence and abundance of bacteria that ferment FODMAPs. Our test, however, doesn't replace a SIBO breath test, but it might make you think about taking one.

Can this test help you treat IBS?

The symptoms of functional intestinal disorders like IBS vary from person to person, so there's no one size fits all treatment. A GutID BFGT can reveal how your gut bacteria affect your intestinal functions, so your clinician can suggest the best course of action.

Some people may need antibiotics or herbal antimicrobial supplements to rebalance their bacterial population, while others may need probiotics or postbiotics (like butyrate).

IBS is a chronic condition, but knowing whether your intestinal bacteria are contributing to it maximizes your chances of treating it. Intestinal bacteria aren't always the first or only cause of IBS. If your GutID test shows no bacterial-related problem, you need to look into different causes, such as motility disorders, neurological problems, malabsorption syndromes and so on.