Abstract
According to the latest gastrointestinal disorders diagnostic criteria (ROME IV), the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is mainly characterized by the presence of abdominal pain and changes in intestinal transit. However, both sleep impairments and oxidative status changes (in patients' sera, mucosal level, and other body fluids) were reported IBS. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate several aspects regarding the oxidative stress status in patients' tears as well as sleep disturbances by comparison with the intensity of IBS symptoms, as assessed by the visual analogue scale for irritable bowel syndrome (VAS-IBS). Ten IBS patients and fourteen healthy sex- and age-matched volunteers were recruited from the Oftaprof Ophthalmological Clinic (Iași, Romania). Visual analogue scale for irritable bowel syndrome and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires were administered to all the patients. Tear samples were collected using the Schirmer test procedure and were subjected to biochemical analysis—superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, malondialdehyde, and total soluble proteins levels were determined. Standard statistical analysis was applied. We found significant differences in oxidative stress marker dynamics in IBS patients as compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls: increased superoxide dismutase activity (p = 0.02), increased malondialdehyde (p = 0.007), and total soluble proteins levels (p = 0.019). We found no significant differences in tear glutathione peroxidase activity in IBS patients as compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls (p = 0.55). Furthermore, we observed that the oxidative stress tear markers are correlated with gastrointestinal symptoms severity (as evaluated by VAS-IBS) but not correlated to the sleep quality index and items (as evaluated by PSQI), with significant differences according to patient sex and IBS subtype stratification. In this way, this study brings additional evidence of the oxidative stress role in IBS pathology alongside the evaluation of tear fluid molecular dynamics in IBS for the first time in our best knowledge.
Highlights
It is currently accepted that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder which exhibits gastrointestinal and mood impairment symptoms [1]
This study showed that oxidative stress could be a permanent component of IBS pathology by being observable in patients’ sera [14, 29], mucosal level [30], and possible metabolomic changes occurring in IBS patients urine [31] and faeces [32] and in tear fluid
Our results showed no significant correlations between the oxidative stress markers and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score and items, except for the correlation between the troubled sleep due to pain versus Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and MDA levels which is rather debatable since the addressed item on pain during sleep made no difference between general pain and gastrointestinal painful events
Summary
It is currently accepted that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder which exhibits gastrointestinal and mood impairment symptoms [1]. According to the latest gastrointestinal disorders diagnostic criteria (ROME IV), IBS is mainly characterized by the presence of abdominal pain and changes in intestinal transit [2]. The changes in mood and affective status could be associated with IBS, affective disorders being currently considered comorbidities in IBS [3]. In this way, it was shown that alongside the affective impairments, such as anxious and depressive moods, IBS patients could exhibit sleep impairments [4]. In a recent study of our group in which we discussed the incidence of sleep disorders and the mechanistical correlation with IBS, we concluded that sleep disturbances are rather a common symptom in IBS, whereas sleep disorders could be
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
