Free Republic

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is strongly linked to a lower risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finds new research. Previously research has linked lifestyle factors with a heightened risk of IBS, and the researchers wanted to find out if a combination of these factors might ward off the condition. They looked at the big five healthy behaviors—never smoking; at least seven hours of sleep every night; a high level of vigorous physical activity every week; a high-quality balanced diet every day; and moderate alcohol intake—among middle-aged participants (average age 55) of the U.K. Biobank. The final analysis included 64,286 people,...

For patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), those who are male and/or have low Alistipes levels are more likely to be nonresponders to fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), according to a study published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility. Magdy El-Salhy, M.D., Ph.D., from Stord Hospital in Norway, and colleagues included 109 patients who received allogeneic FMT to examine factors potentially affecting FMT response. At baseline and at two weeks, one month, and three months after FMT, patients completed questionnaires that assessed their symptoms and quality of life. Fecal samples were also provided at baseline and one month after FMT. The researchers found...

A SPOONFUL of worms may not go down as delightfully as sugar, but it is highly effective against inflammatory bowel disease, research has found. Following the success of trials, a drinkable potion containing thousands of pig whipworm eggs could be launched in Europe as early as next month. The tests, carried out in the United States, involved 100 people with ulcerative colitis and 100 with Crohn’s disease. Both are incurable and potentially serious disorders collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In many of the volunteers, symptoms such as abdominal pain, bleeding and diarrhoea disappeared after the worm treatment. Half...