Category: Stomach bloating

Taking these powerful drugs can cause immune system changes.

Giving children even one single, short course of antibiotics will dispose them in later life to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a study has found.

Antibiotics are the most common drugs prescribed for children in Europe and the United States.

Previous studies suggest that the treatment can kill the “good” bacteria in the gut.

Large numbers of antibacterials including macrolides and β-lactam are most commonly prescribed for children with sore throats, bronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infection despite no proof of effectiveness.

Rutgers researchers reveal that children who are treated with antibiotics are more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in adulthood.

The study gives more evidence that antibiotics prescribed to babies under one-year-old causes disruption of the gut flora.

Antibodies will repeatedly ruin many good bacteria which are necessary for the development of children’s immune system that helps prevent various diseases like type 1 diabetes and IBD.

Dr Martin Blaser, the study’s co-author, said:

“This study provides experimental evidence strengthening the idea that the associations of antibiotic exposures to the later development of disease in human children are more than correlations, but that they are actually playing roles in the disease causation.”

The research team used a chemical on mice that produces the symptoms of colitis.

The animals were then given antibiotics that disturbing the microbiome.

The results showed that mice on antibiotics had flare-ups of colitis, suggesting serious negative effects and changes in gut microbiota as well as intestinal immune system.

Dr Ceren Ozkul, the study’s first author, said:

“The use of a well-validated model of colitis enabled us to study the effects of prior antibiotic exposures on the development of an important disease process.”

The study was published in the journal Genome Medicine (Ozkul et al., 2020).

The herb has a pain relief effect on the digestive system via blocking ‘pain messages’ sent to brain.

Peppermint helps relieve abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea, especially in IBS, studies show.

Peppermint is a well-known traditional remedy used in treating a number of physical disorders.

Peppermint can reduce the inflammatory pain in the gut by activating an anti-pain channel in the colon, research finds.

Peppermint contains a compound called menthol which produces a cooling sensation to the TRPM8 receptor in the body.

TRPM8 (transient receptor potential ion channel melastatin subtype 8) has widely been related to pain responses in humans.

Cooling chemicals, such as menthol, activates TRPM8, which blocks pain messages sent to the brain.

This is why peppermint, including peppermint oil, is effective in relieving pain in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dr Stuart Brierley, a co-author of a study that looked at peppermint and its effect on TRPM8, explains:

“Our research shows that peppermint acts through a specific anti-pain channel called TRPM8 to reduce pain sensing fibres, particularly those activated by mustard and chilli.

This is potentially the first step in determining a new type of mainstream clinical treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Some people find their symptoms appear after consuming fatty and spicy foods, coffee and alcohol, but it is more complex than that.

There appears to be a definite link between IBS and a former bout of gastroenteritis, which leaves nerve pain fibres in a heightened state, altering mechanisms in the gut wall and resulting in ongoing pain.”

Several studies confirm that peppermint helps relieve abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea, especially in IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) patients.

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that peppermint oil has antispasmodics and muscle-relaxing properties in those with IBS.

Antispasmodic medications are used as smooth muscle relaxants to reduce the occurrence and intensity of spasms in the stomach, intestine and the other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrointestinal disorders can cause bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence, indigestion and abdominal pain, which affects many people’s life quality.

IBS symptoms alone affect about 15 percent of Americans and around 20 percent the UK and Australia.

The studies were published in the journals Pain (Harrington et al., 2011) and the British Medical Journal (Ford et al., 2008).

This common ingredient is addictive but the result can be painful.

Avoiding capsaicin — a pungent ingredient in chillies and pepper — can help to reduce stomach bloating, research suggests.

Capsaicin can aggravate the lining of the stomach and the intestines.

It also stimulates certain receptors (TRPV1) which are responsible for pain and burning sensations.

The number of TRPV1 receptors — known as capsaicin receptors –tends to be higher in people with sensitive stomachs or digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

They are more likely to experience pain due to having more nerve fibres expressing the TRPV1 receptors, a study has found.

A clear example is eating spicy meals including curry, chili, zesty chicken wings, as these cause a burning sensation like ingesting a fireball.

One option to reduce sensitivity to capsaicin is eating a lot of chillies over a long period of time.

This can possibly desensitize the TRPV1 receptors and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal discomfort or pain, burping, gas, nausea and bloating.

Pharmaceutical companies are focusing on TRPV1 desensitisation by creating pain killers that target these receptors.

A simple way to combat these sensations is by drinking a glass of milk.

This can help to reduce the burning sensation in the mouth after eating spicy foods, since a protein in milk can neutralise the effect of capsaicin.

Professor Praveen Anand, study co-author, said:

“Up to 50 pharmaceutical and biotech companies world-wide are developing drugs that block the chilli pepper receptor TRPV1, and our published studies on this receptor in a number of chronic pain and hypersensitivity conditions provide hope for millions of suffering patients.”

The study was published in the journal of Gut (Akbar et al., 2008).

If you have IBS, this green plant is good for you.

An algae called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) can diminish human digestive problems such as stomach bloating, research finds.

For the study, volunteers consumed 1 or 3 grams a day of C. reinhardtii powder for one month.

The results revealed that participants had more regular bowel movements, less abdominal pain, less diarrhoea or constipation, and less bloating or gas.

Also, eating the algae didn’t cause any changes in their gut microbiome (microorganisms that live in the human’s digestive tract).

C. reinhardtii is a green algae that grows in soil and fresh water world wide.

While some algae such as seaweed are popular for their nutrients, vitamins and minerals, the health effect of C. reinhardtii are new to us.

Researchers now suggest that C. reinhardtii can improve gastrointestinal disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its symptoms such as stomach pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhoea.

Professor Stephen Mayfield, study co-author, said:

“People have been looking at this algae for decades, but this is the first study to show what many of us have suspected — it’s good for you.

This is exciting because it demonstrates a clear benefit: If you have IBS-like symptoms, this is good for you.”

For years Professor Mayfield and his colleagues were studying this algae to be used as a sustainable source of biofuels.

But over time they tested whether C. reinhardtii can be used as a nutritious ingredient in foods to boost human health.

The research team also looked into the effect of consuming the algae on people with digestive tract problems.

Mr Frank Fields, the study’s first author, said:

“The benefits of consuming this species of algae were immediately obvious when examining the data from both mice and humans who suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms.

I hope that this study helps destigmatize the thought of incorporating algae and algae-based products into your diet — it is a fantastic source of nutrition and we have now shown that this species of algae has additional benefits to animal and human health.”

The experts think the improvement in the digestive system might be due to an unknown bio-active compound or changes in gene expression (genetic information) regulated by certain bacteria in the gut.

The study was published in the Journal of Functional Foods (Fields et al., 2020).

If you experience stomach cramps and bloating, especially during exercise, this diet might help.

Avoiding certain foods can ease gastrointestinal problems in people who are vulnerable to symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The symptoms can include pain in the belly, nausea, belching, heartburn, diarrhoea, flatulence, urge to defecate and constipation.

Researchers have revealed that a diet low in fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide and polyol (FODMAP) is beneficial to people with any of these symptoms.

FODMAPs are indigestible carbohydrates (sugars) that are found in foods such as artichoke, garlic, onions, shallots, leek, wheat, rye, peach, honey, syrups, soft cheese, milk, apples, legumes and pulses.

Food manufacturers also add FODMAPs, such as artificial sweeteners and food additives, to make processed foods more tasty.

Bread is not high in FODMAPs but because we have a high amount of bread in our diet, it counts as a major source.

Other FODMAP foods are cereals, pasta, pastries and energy drinks, again because they are consumed in high quantity.

Low-FODMAPs foods like rice, corn, oats, quinoa, and millet are good alternative sources.

Replacing foods like garlic that is a highly concentrated source of FODMAPs with a low FODMAP foods such as ginger and chives would help decrease inflammation and stomach discomfort.

Previously, it has been shown that a low FODMAP diet is very helpful to people with IBS.

The new study suggests that this diet can also lessen stomach cramps, bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms caused by exercise as well as improving people’s performance during exercise.

Participants in this study were a group of healthy runners who had to follow high or low FODMAP diet plans for one week at a time with a week washout period between each diet plan.

Nearly 70 percent of participants who were on a low FODMAP diet saw a significant improvement in symptoms besides being able to exercise more frequently and for much longer with higher intensity.

Dr Justin Roberts, study co-author, said:

“We found a clear benefit when following the low FODMAP diet, with a reduction in exercise-related gastrointestinal symptoms amongst otherwise healthy, recreational runners.

The reported improvement in perceived pain, in conjunction with reduced experiences of bloating whilst on a low FODMAP diet, is likely explained by a reduction in intestinal water volume and gas production, caused by fewer indigestible carbohydrates available for fermentation in the gut.”

A low-FODMAP diet plan can be difficult to manage or even stressful, therefore following such a diet requires proper care.

Dr Roberts said:

“It’s also important that people take care if deciding to follow a low FODMAP diet, as reductions in total caloric and carbohydrate intake may impact on nutritional quality.”

The study was published in the journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition (Wiffin et al., 2019).

Accumulation of this bacteria in the small bowel is linked to stomach bloating and brain fogginess.

Cutting down on carbohydrates, including sugar, avoiding probiotics and even taking antibiotics can reduce stomach bloating, research suggests.

Making these changes can reduce brain fogginess, abdominal pain and bloating, belching and gas.

Probiotics have different species and are normally safe to take, but sometimes they can cause side-effects.

This can be due to bacteria-host interactions or can occur in people with conditions such as short bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Lactobacillus is one probiotic with a number of species.

Some of these species, like Lactobacillus fermenti and Lactobacillus acidophilus can produce D-lactic acid.

A study suggests that an overgrowth of these Lactobacillus species’ will increase D-lactic acid production, which can cause brain fogginess, abdominal pain and bloating, belching and gas.

Dr Satish Rao, the study’s first author, said:

“When investigators looked further, they found large colonies of bacteria breeding in the patients’ small intestines, and high levels of D-lactic acid being produced by the bacteria lactobacillus’ fermentation of sugars in their food.”

D-lactic acidosis (D-lactate) is caused by the fermentation of undigested carbohydrate by D-lactic producing bacteria in the bowel.

Accumulation of D-lactic acid in the blood can temporarily cause toxicity to brain cells, leading to neurological symptoms such as slow speech, confusion and poor awareness of the environment.

The treatment is cutting down material for D-lactate production, such as carbohydrates, including sugar, to stop taking probiotics and, if necessary, antibiotics can be used.

Dr Rao said:

“Probiotics are supposed to work in the colon and not the small intestines or stomach, so motility issues can result in problems with probiotic bacteria reaching the proper place.

A wide variety of problems, from conditions like diabetes to drugs like antidepressants and minerals like iron, can slow movement and increase the possibility that probiotics will remain too long in the upper gut where they can cause harm.

Probiotics definitely can help, for example, people who have gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, or are left with diarrhea and other problems after antibiotics wipe out their natural gut bacteria.

In those situations, we want to build up their bacterial flora so probiotics are ideal.”

In general, probiotics obtained from foods or supplements are safe and benefit many people.

The report was published in the journal of Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology (Rao et al., 2018).

Eating more of these foods is tied to stomach bloating, abdominal pain, and fatigue.

Eating junk food aggravates inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a study finds.

Foods like cookies, sports and energy drinks, French fries, cheese, soda, and processed fruit juice are linked to IBD.

It appears that the foods themselves don’t trigger the disease but their processing.

For example, frying makes food harder to digest and destroys many nutrients vital for health.

More than three million U.S. adults are affected by IBD, a general term referring to lingering conditions that cause inflammation of the digestive tract.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease.

Stomach bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue, diarrhea and blood in stools are common symptoms of IBD.

Researchers analysed 26 foods to find out whether any of these foods would have an impact on patients with IBD.

Previous studies suggest that frequent consumption of fast foods such as processed meat and pizza increase the risk of developing IBD.

The study found that a high number of people with IBD drink less 100 percent fruit juice and eat more French fries, cookies, and cheese compared to healthy people.

Regular consumption of soda, energy drinks, sports beverages, and French fries was significantly associated with being diagnosed with IBD.

Contrary to common belief, milk or popcorn intake didn’t increase the chance of having IBD.

Dr Moon Han, the study’s first author, said:

“While foods typically labelled as junk food were positively associated with inflammatory bowel disease, we found the eating patterns of people with and without this disease to be very similar.

However, it’s unclear whether the survey results reflect a potential change in the food intake of people with inflammatory bowel disease long before the survey was conducted.”

Besides food intake, other factors such as bioactive compounds in foods, environmental changes, and food processing can all cause inflammation of the digestive tract and increase the likelihood of IBD.

The study was published in PLOS ONE (Han et al., 2020).

A therapy for long-term relief from bowel disorder, abdominal pain, bloating and gas.

People with digestive system disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) could benefit more from psychological therapy provided online or over the phone than standard treatments.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that is specially designed for people with digestive system disorders could relieve the symptoms more effectively than current medications, a study has found.

UK researchers show that a course of CBT over the phone or web-based sessions could hugely reduce the severity of IBS symptoms and improve patients’ lives.

IBS, a gastrointestinal disorder, affects 10 to 20 percent of people, impacting their quality of life, relationships and work.

Ongoing symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, gas, bloating and abdominal pain can shatter patients’ mental health and lead them to anxiety and depression.

Psychological therapies, especially face-to-face cognitive–behavioural therapy, have been shown to decrease these symptoms and improve patients’ lives by changing unhelpful beliefs and improving coping skills.

Dr Hazel Everitt, the study’s first author, said:

“We previously knew that face-to-face CBT sessions could be helpful for treating IBS and this type of treatment is recommended in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence’s guidelines.

However, in my experience as a GP, I have found that availability is extremely limited.”

The study included 558 patients who had already tried different IBS treatments but didn’t see any improvement.

After a year of the phone or online CBT, participants saw a great reduction in severity of symptoms, improvements at work and quality of life when compared to those who only had their usual IBS treatment.

Dr Everitt siad:

“The fact that both telephone and web based CBT sessions were shown to be effective treatments is a really important and exciting discovery.

Patients are able to undertake these treatments at a time convenient to them, without having to travel to clinics.”

Professor Rona Moss-Morris, who developed a self-management version of CBT for IBS, said:

“The most important next step is for these tailored CBT treatments to be made more widely available.

Professor Trudie Chalder and I are currently training NHS therapists at pre-existing Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services, so that more people suffering from IBS can access these treatments quickly.

We are also working with a commercial partner to bring web-based CBT to the NHS and other parts of the world.”

The study was published in the journal of Gut (Everitt et al., 2019).

Scientists have found what causes the stomach ache and abdominal pains in IBS.

Abdominal pain or a dull ache in the tummy is a common condition affecting millions of people, including patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Over 11 percent of the population in the world are IBS sufferers and about 74 percent of Americans are coping with digestive problems such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, stomach cramps and abdominal pain.

The good news is that the battle against abdominal pain has come closer to victory as researchers discovered those receptors in the nervous system that are responsible for this condition.

The human gut contains receptors similar to the ones that cause itchy skin.

These receptors generate irritating sensations in the gut which cause people with digestive problems to experience a chronic pain called ‘gut itch’.

People with digestive disorders including IBS appear to have more ‘itch’ receptors when compared to a healthy person.

The more ‘itch’ receptors, the more activated neurons and so the more feelings of pain.

Researchers are hoping that this will lead to developing a simple but effective treatment, instead of prescribing drugs like opioids.

Opioids can relieve pain but cannot fix the problem.

Professor Stuart Brierley, the research director, said:

“We found receptors which bring about an itchy feeling on skin also do the same in in the gut, so these patients are essentially suffering from a ‘gut itch’.

We’ve translated these results to human tissue tests and now hope to help create a treatment where people can take an oral medication for IBS.”

IBS sufferers experience pain when the itch receptors in the gut are activated, a defense mechanism telling the body that something is wrong.

The reaction is similar to a particular receptor known as the ‘wasabi receptor’ in nerve cells that responds with an itchy sensation to the Japanese condiment wasabi.

Professor Brierley, said:

“If you think about what happens when you eat wasabi, it activates a receptor on the nerves and sends a pain signal—that’s exactly what’s happening within in their gut as they experience an itchy effect or wasabi effect in the gut.

Having shown these mechanisms contribute to chronic gut pain, we can now work out ways to block these receptors and thereby stop the ‘gut itch’ signal traveling from the gut to the brain.

This will be a far better solution that the problems currently presented by opioid treatments.”

The study was published in JCI Insight (Castro et al., 2019).