Introduction

IBS patients are often high healthcare utilizers. Symptom frequency, as well as psychological factors like neuroticism, anxiety, and depression, impact healthcare seeking. Bothersomeness, i.e., how distressing or disruptive symptoms are to a person’s daily life, is a potential treatment-seeking motivator in IBS. We aimed to evaluate symptom bothersomeness in IBS and its potential influence on healthcare utilization.

Aims & Methods

Adults in 9 countries (Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Spain, United States) completed an online survey that included IBS Rome IV Diagnostic Questions, lifetime healthcare utilization (HCU) for IBS (Yes/No); depression and anxiety; negative emotionality/neuroticism (NE), or a person’s tendency to experience anxiety, anger, frustration, pessimism, or depressed mood; demographic questions and the question “Is the [symptom] bothersome to you?” (yes/no) for each: abdominal pain, hard/lumpy stools, and soft/mushy stools. Three separate binary logistic regression models assessed the symptom's frequency, depression, anxiety, NE, sex, and age as predictors of bothersomeness for each of the key IBS symptoms. Three additional regression models evaluated each symptom's bothersomeness and frequency, depression, anxiety, NE, sex, and age as predictors of HCU.

Results

Of 17,663 participants, 1,389 (7.9%) met Rome IV criteria for IBS (mean age 41.6 (SD 14.7) years, 62.3% female; IBS sub-types: 32% C, 29% D, 36% M, 4% U). Of those with IBS, 65.7% had ever visited a doctor because of bowel problems. Abdominal pain was rated bothersome by 93% of people with IBS, hard stools by 80%, and mushy/watery stools by 78%, with no sex differences. Older people (ages 65+) reported only hard stools as more bothersome (t(1236) = -3.40, 95%CI: -5.54 to -1.49, p<.001) than people of ages 18-39 or 40-64. Bothersomeness (yes/no) was predicted in regression analyses by higher frequencies of abdominal pain [Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% CI: 2.00 (1.46-2.74)], hard stools [1.33 (1.24-1.43)], and mushy stools [(1.24 (1.16-1.31)], but not by age, sex, or psychological variables. People with IBS were significantly more likely (χ²) to have ever visited a doctor for bowel problems if they rated their pain (p = .003), hard stools (p = .020), and mushy stools (p < .001), as bothersome. Finding pain and mushy stools bothersome (yes/no) increased the odds of HCU for pain and mushy stools, but not for hard stools in the regression models (Table 1). Higher frequency of pain and hard stools (but not mushy stools) also increased HCU odds, and older people were more likely to consult for all 3 symptoms. Psychological variables and sex were not significant predictors of HCU.

Table 1. Binary regression analyses for predicting IBS lifetime doctor consulting for bowel symptoms

Conclusion

For persons with IBS, subjective experience of how bothersome symptoms are is strongly associated with symptom reporting and a driving factor to HCU regardless of gender, psychological distress, or negative emotionality. Providers need to assess symptom bothersomeness in their clinical decision-making.

Clinical Case Summary

We present the case of a 50-year-old man with six months of persistent, non-bloody watery diarrhea (8–10 episodes/day), unresponsive to antibiotics and probiotics. His past medical history was unremarkable, he took no home medications, and denied raw meat or fish consumption. Notably, he had recently started working in an animal feed production facility one month before symptom onset. Initial labs showed mild leukocytosis (10.04 x 10³/µL; ULN: 8.77) and mildly elevated CRP (7.5 mg/L; ULN: 3.4). Extensive infectious workup, including CMV serology, Quantiferon, stool cultures for Salmonella, and tests for fungi and parasites (e.g., Giardia), fecal elastase, rectal swabs for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase and Clostridium difficile returned negative. Colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy were normal, and biopsies from all intestinal segments showed no pathological findings. He was discharged with partial improvement (3–4 bowel movements/day) and normalized CRP, but was readmitted a week later for worsening symptoms. Repeat blood work, thyroid function, serum calcitonin and inflammatory markers were within normal limits. Intestinal ultrasound showed a tubular descending colon suggestive of nonspecific left-sided colitis; other bowel segments were normal. Stool tests remained negative.Urine toxicology was positive for cannabinoids. Upon further questioning, the patient admitted to regular use over the past eight months, including during both hospitalisations (CUDIT-R score = 12). After cessation of cannabinoid use, diarrhea resolved completely. At 3-month follow-up, he was asymptomatic, with normal bowel habits and labs. He reported only sporadic cannabinoid use at present (CUDIT-R score 7). This case illustrates the potential for chronic cannabinoid use to induce persistent diarrhea mimicking infectious or inflammatory disease. Screening for substance use should be considered in chronic unexplained diarrhea.

Clinical Case Summary

Introduction: Gastric siderosis (GS) refers to the abnormal deposition of iron within the gastric mucosa, a condition that can be associated with various underlying pathologies. Our case depicts a case of gastric siderosis with iron deposition in the stomach in association with excessive oral iron intake, presenting unusually with chronic diarrhea. Such association has been mentioned previously in the literature but not established.
Case: A 70-year-old lady with a history of iron deficiency anemia and chronic kidney disease presented with 3 weeks of progressively worsening diarrhea. Home medicines included iron pills. She denied any blood in stool, abdominal pain, recent travel, or antibiotic use. Her vitals and her abdominal exam were unremarkable. Stool studies, including stool parasite, C. difficile toxin, calprotectin, and bacterial PCR, were negative.
Colonoscopy showed a normal macroscopic appearance with random biopsies negative for microscopic colitis. An upper endoscopy was performed demonstrating normal esophagus but pitted brown spots mucosa in the gastric body, and antrum. Biopsies were taken, with antral ones demonstrating antral mucosa with iron deposition in the glands and lamina propria concerning gastric siderosis. Oral iron was discontinued and the patient endorsed improvement in symptoms upon outpatient follow-up with endoscopic resolution at 6 months.
Discussion: Iron deposition in gastric mucosa induces a highly oxidative state, producing injury. However, siderosis due to oral iron use is less commonly associated with mucosal injury, with cases seen with changes ranging from erythema to mucosal erosions. Our patient had pattern B on biopsy involving stroma, whereas A involves macrophages in gastric inflammation, and C involves glands in hemochromatosis. No association with the duration or amount of exposure is associated with differences in symptoms. Non-bloody diarrhea occurs without active ulceration being reported, making our patient unique.

References

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Introduction

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of Crohn’s Disease (CD) by maintaining intestinal homeostasis, supporting metabolic and immune functions, and influencing overall health. An imbalance in the gut microbiota is associated with CD, as disruptions in microbial composition can be further impacted by dietary factors, highlighting the connection between nutrition and gut health.

Aims & Methods

This study aimed to evaluate the gut microbiota composition and its interactions with dietary factors to identify potential opportunities for targeted probiotic interventions in CD management. The study included 53 participants, of whom 20 had CD in remission, 18 had active disease, and 15 were healthy controls. CD activity was evaluated by colonoscopy assessment or by nuclear magnetic resonance scan enterography. All participants aged between 18 and 60 years were assessed using 24-hour dietary recall and gut microbiome profiling through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Patients had confirmed diagnoses of CD with ileal and/or colonic involvement. The local ethics committee approved this study.

Results

Microbial composition analyses (beta diversity) revealed significant differences between groups. At the Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) level, healthy microbiome differed significantly from both remission and active CD patients, with healthy controls showing a more similar microbial composition compared to remission (p = 0.001) and active disease (p = 0.001). In addition, Shannon diversity analyses demonstrated that healthy individuals exhibited significantly higher OTU diversity compared to CD patients, further highlighting the microbial imbalance associated with the disease. Among specific taxa, Eubacterium hallii, a key butyrate producer, was significantly reduced in patients with active CD. This microorganism is integral to intestinal metabolic balance, playing essential roles in energy homeostasis, colonic motility, immunomodulation, and inflammation suppression. Furthermore, E. hallii plays a critical role in bile acid and cholesterol metabolism, highlighting its importance in gut health. Disease severity was associated with changes in microbial abundance, with specific taxa colonizing the gut at higher levels as disease activity increased, including Escherichia coli, Escherichia-Shigella, and taxa from the Enterobacteriaceae, Lachnospirales, and Bacteroides. This growth may be linked to inflammatory processes and intestinal dysbiosis, suggesting a potentially pathogenic role. Furthermore, dietary components such as saccharin, an artificial sweetener, were significantly associated with alterations in microbial composition.

Conclusion

These findings underline the potential for probiotics targeting specific taxa, such as E. hallii, to restore microbial balance and improve clinical outcomes in CD. The study also highlights the impact of dietary components, such as saccharin, in disrupting the gut microbiome, suggesting that certain dietary factors may contribute to microbial imbalance and inflammation in CD. Future research should focus on integrating dietary patterns with probiotic development to optimize gut health and mitigate inflammation in CD patients.

References

1. BOLTE, L. A. et al. Long-term dietary patterns are associated with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory features of the gut microbiome. Gut, p. gutjnl-2020-322670, 2 abr. 2021.
2. FAN, Y.; PEDERSEN, O. Gut microbiota in human metabolic health and disease. Nature Reviews Microbiology, v. 19, n. 1, p. 55–71, 4 jan. 2021.
3. GILL, P. A. et al. The Role of Diet and Gut Microbiota in Regulating Gastrointestinal and Inflammatory Disease. Frontiers in Immunology, v. 13, n. April, p. 1–22, 5 abr. 2022.

Introduction

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common yet complex gastrointestinal disorder, characterised by postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, and burning. With growing evidence linking diet to inflammation and symptoms, our objective was to review the evidence for the impact of dietary factors on FD symptomatology.

Aims & Methods

A systematic review was conducted to identify dietary components influencing FD symptoms in adults. Databases searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane, covering January 2000 to December 2024. A total of 14 studies met eligibility criteria, with findings synthesised through narrative analysis.

Results

The search strategy yielded 18,424 articles, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Analysis identified seven key dietary components associated with FD: (1) a low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet significantly improved symptoms (p = 0.04), while gluten intake was linked to early satiety (p = 0.03); (2) probiotics or prebiotics provided symptom relief (RR 1.15, p = 0.52), with probiotics alone showing a trend toward improved FD scores (RR 1.35, p = 0.061); (3) capsaicin significantly exacerbated symptoms (p < 0.001), and spicy foods were associated with increased gastric fullness (p = 0.001); (4) both peppermint-caraway oil (p < 0.00001) and cinnamon oil (p < 0.001) demonstrated significant symptom relief; (5) ginseng-based herbal porridge led to a higher rate of epigastric symptom remission by day 90 compared to placebo (45.71% vs. 20.69%, p = 0.036), while the STW 5-II formulation (a nine-herb extract) also yielded significant improvement (p = 0.008); (6) prokinetic agents reduced symptom severity (RR 0.81, p < 0.0001), while amitriptyline outperformed both placebo (40%) and escitalopram (38%), relieving symptoms in 53% of patients—particularly those with ulcer-like FD; and (7) ginger/artichoke capsules improved symptoms within 14 days (p = 0.017), while ginger/perilla tablets offered progressive relief over one to two weeks (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Study quality was assessed using ROBIS, RoB 2.0, and ROBINS-I tools. Of the included studies, three were rated as low risk of bias, eight as moderate, and three as serious. Despite adherence to a standardised PRISMA-based search strategy, variability in outcome reporting limited direct comparability across studies.

Table 1

Conclusion

This review highlights dietary interventions as a promising strategy for managing FD. Our findings show that specific dietary components can be implicated in inducing inflammation and symptoms in FD. Since the symptoms are related to inflammation, we propose using “inflammatory dyspepsia” to represent the true presentation of this form of dyspepsia. Large-scale randomised trials are needed to confirm findings and refine dietary guidelines.