Risk Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research Articles

Maladaptive weight control and eating behaviours in female adolescents/young adults are associated with increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome in adulthood: Results from the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS).

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common among individuals with eating disorders. The relationship between these conditions is likely bidirectional. However, data on the risk of IBS among those with prior eating disorders is largely limited to cross-sectional studies. To prospectively evaluate the association between maladaptive weight control/eating behaviours in females during adolescence/young adulthood with subsequent IBS using the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). Starting in 1996 (age: 9-14) and during follow-up, participants reported frequency of maladaptive eating/weight control behaviours during the past year to lose weight: self-induced vomiting (n = 5740), laxative use (n = 5438), and fasting (n = 5522) in addition to reporting binge eating (n = 4459). Starting in 2001 and during follow-up, participants reported if they had ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder (n = 5316). Incident IBS cases were identified from four questionnaire cycles (2013, 2014, 2016, 2019), with participants specifying the year of diagnosis if occurring before the questionnaire date. Multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for age, body mass index, and depressive symptoms estimated the associations of interest. Maladaptive weight control/eating behaviours were associated with increased IBS risk [ORs (95% CIs) for laxatives to lose weight = 3.67 (2.52-5.35), vomiting to lose weight = 1.83 (1.29-2.60), fasting to lose weight = 2.62 (1.86-3.70), and bingeing = 2.25 (1.54-3.28)] as was history of eating disorder diagnosis [OR (95% CI) = 3.42 (2.38-4.90)]. The magnitude of IBS risk increased with the frequency of maladaptive behaviours. There is evidence for the potential role of early maladaptive weight control/eating behaviours in the development of adult IBS among females.

Associations of modifiable factors with risk of irritable bowel syndrome.

Modifiable factors were found to be associated with the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in observational studies, but whether these associations are causal is uncertain. We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to systematically explore the causal associations of modifiable factors with IBS. Summary-level statistical data for IBS was obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of UK Biobank (40,548 cases and 293,220 controls) and the international collaborative Bellygenes initiative (12,852 cases and 139,981 controls). Genetic instruments associated with the exposures at the genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 10-8) level were selected from previous GWASs. Mendelian randomization was performed using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented with several sensitivity analyses to evaluate potentially causal relationships between identified contributing factors and IBS. Furthermore, we applied another database from FinnGen (8,116 IBS cases and 276,683 controls) to testify the reliability of the significant associations. Seven convincing modifiable factors were significantly associated with IBS after correction for multiple testing. Genetically predicted smoking initiation (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.06-1.18, p = 1.03 × 10-4), alcohol consumption (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.34-0.64, p = 3.49 × 10-6), sedentary behavior (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.07-1.28, p = 4.02 × 10-4), chronotype (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88-0.96, p = 4.42 × 10-4), insomnia (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.15-1.24, p = 7.59 × 10-19), education (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.74-0.88, p = 5.34 × 10-7), and visceral adiposity (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06-1.24, p = 7.96 × 10-4). We additionally identified several suggestive factors, including serum magnesium, serum phosphorus, physical activity, lifetime smoking, intelligence, lean body mass, and body mass index (BMI). After pooling the effect estimates from FinnGen, the associations remained significant except for chronotype. This MR analysis verified several modifiable risk factors for IBS, thus prevention strategies for IBS should be considered from multiple perspectives on these risk factors.

Role of Sex, Anxiety, and Resilience in the Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a female-predominant chronic abdominal disorder. Factors contributing to this association have not been well-studied. We compared sex differences in ACE for adults with and without IBS and evaluated the impact of anxiety and resilience on the relationship between ACE and IBS. Sex and disease differences in total score and ACE subtypes from the ACE Questionnaire in subjects with IBS and control subjects were assessed. Cross-sectional mediation analysis determined if anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale or Brief Resilience Scale) mediated the relationship between ACE and IBS. Of 798 participants studied, 368 met IBS diagnostic criteria (265 women, 103 men) and 430 were healthy control subjects (277 women, 153 men). Prevalence and number of ACE were higher in IBS versus control subjects (P < .001) but similar between IBS women and men. Household mental illness increased odds of having IBS in women (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-2.85; false discovery rate [FDR], 0.002) and men (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.26-4.33; FDR, 0.014). Emotional abuse increased odds of having IBS in women (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.23-3.09; FDR, 0.019) and sexual abuse increased odds of IBS in men (OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.35-10.38; FDR, 0.027). Anxiety mediated 54% (P < .001) of ACE's effect on IBS risk and resilience mediated 12%-14% (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, P= .008; Brief Resilience Scale, P= .018). Both men and women with a history of ACE are twice as likely to have IBS than those without an ACE. Anxiety mediated the relationship between ACE and IBS in men and women and resilience mediated this relationship only in women.

Lifestyle and genetic predisposition are associated with incident irritable bowel syndrome: A population-based prospective cohort study

Few prospective studies have investigated the joint effect of lifestyle factors and genetic susceptibility on the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study aims to evaluate the associations of lifestyle and genetic factors with incident IBS in the UK Biobank. We analyzed data from 481,057 participants (54% female) without prevalent IBS at enrollment in the UK Biobank. An overall healthy lifestyle was defined using six modifiable lifestyle factors, including smoking, body mass index (BMI), sleep duration, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption, and hence categorized into ‘favorable’, ‘intermediate’, and ‘unfavorable’ lifestyles. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to investigate the association between a healthy lifestyle and incident IBS. Furthermore, we constructed a polygenic risk score (PRS) for IBS and assessed whether lifestyle modified the effect of genetics on the development of IBS. During a median follow-up of 12.1 years, 8,645 incident IBS were ascertained. Specifically, among the six modifiable lifestyle factors, adequate sleep demonstrates the greatest protective effect (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.69,0.75) against IBS.Compared with a favorable lifestyle, an unfavorable lifestyle was associated with a 56% (95% CI: 46%-67%) increased risk of IBS (P = 8.99×10-40). The risk of incident IBS was 12% (95% CI: 4%-21%) higher among those at high genetic risk compared with those at low genetic risk (P = 0.005). When considering the joint effect of lifestyle and genetic susceptibility, the HR nearly doubled among individuals with high genetic risk and unfavorable lifestyle (HR: 1.80; 95% CI:1.51-2.15; P = 3.50×10-11) compared to those with low genetic risk and favorable lifestyle. No multiplicative or addictive interaction was observed between lifestyle and genetics. The findings from this study indicated that lifestyle and genetic factors were independently associated with the risk of incident IBS. All these results implicated a possible clinical strategy of lowering the incidence of IBS by advocating a healthy lifestyle.

Investigation of the causal association between Parkinson's disease and autoimmune disorders: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

To date, an increasing number of epidemiological evidence has pointed to potential relationships between Parkinson's disease (PD) and various autoimmune diseases (AIDs), however, no definitive conclusions has been drawn about whether PD is causally related to AIDs risk. By employing summary statistics from the latest and most extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal associations between PD and a variety of 17 AIDs, encompassing multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, myasthenia gravis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, type 1 diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis and vitiligo. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) was adopted as the main statistical approach to obtain the causal estimates of PD on different AIDs, supplemented by a series of complementary analyses (weighted median, MR Egger regression, and MR-PRESSO) for further strengthening the robustness of results. Our MR findings suggested that genetically predicted higher liability to PD was causally associated with a decreased risk of irritable bowel syndrome (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99; P = 0.032). On the contrary, IVW analysis showed a potential positive correlation between genetically determined PD and the incidence of type 1 diabetes (OR = 1.10; 95%CI: 1.02-1.19; P = 0.010). Subsequent MR tests ended up in similar results, confirming our findings were reliable. Additionally, in the reverse MR analyses, we did not identify any evidence to support the causal relationship of genetic predisposition to AIDs with PD susceptibility. In general, a bifunctional role that PD exerted on the risk of developing AIDs was detected in our studies, both protecting against irritable bowel syndrome occurrence and raising the incidence of type 1 diabetes. Future studies, including population-based observational studies and molecular experiments in vitro and in vivo, are warranted to validate the results of our MR analyses and refine the underlying pathological mechanisms involved in PD-AIDs associations.

A systematic review of the association between environmental risk factors and the development of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with roots in genetic, immune, psychological, and dietary factors. Recently, the potential correlation between environmental exposures, such as air pollution, and IBS has gained attention. This review aimed to systematically examine existing studies on environmental factors associated with IBS, elucidating this interplay and guiding future research. A literature search was conducted in Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from database inception to October 10, 2023, using the keywords "Irritable Bowel" or IBS or "Irritable Colon" or "Mucous Colitis" or "Spastic Colitis" or "Spastic Colon" AND "environment* exposure*". Studies were included if they were original, published in English, described defined environmental exposure(s), and had documented diagnosis of IBS. For the purposes of this review, articles reporting physical (e.g. radiation and climate change), biological (e.g. bacteria and viruses), and chemical (e.g. harmful gases) exposures were included while psychological and dietary factors, which have been reviewed in detail elsewhere, are outside of the scope. A total of seven studies focusing on air quality, microbial exposure, and other environmental factors were reviewed. Studies highlighted a potential association between air pollutants and increased IBS incidence. Microbial exposure, post-natural disaster or due to poor sanitation, was linked to IBS development and gut dysbiosis. Other exposures, such as early pet ownership, were also associated with IBS risk. Existing research demonstrates an epidemiologic relationship between environmental exposures and the development of IBS. Further research is needed to understand these associations.

Exploring the potential causal effects of food preferences on irritable bowel syndrome risk: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder in gut-brain interaction. Diet plays an important role in the pathophysiology of IBS. Therefore, we aimed to explore the potential causal effects of food-liking on IBS to provide better diet advice for patients. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with food-liking were selected as instrumental variables, which were obtained from the latest genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted on 161 625 participants. The summary data of genetic associations with IBS were obtained from a recent GWAS with 433 201 European controls and 53 400 cases. We used inverse variance weighting as the main analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to detect horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Significant evidence revealed the protective effects of a vegetarian diet-liking on IBS, including asparagus, avocadoes, globe artichoke, aubergine, and black olives, while onion-liking showed potential deleterious effects. For meat and fish, preference for sardines and fried fish was marginally associated with IBS risk, but salami and salmon were potential protective factors. In terms of desserts and dairy products, preferences for cake icing, ketchup, and cheesecake were suggestively associated with higher IBS risk, while goat cheese-liking was marginally correlated with lower IBS risk. Additionally and suggestively, significant causal effects of IBS on increased preferences for globe artichoke and salami were also found in a reverse Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Our study revealed potential causal associations between food preference and IBS from a genetic perspective, which provides a dietary reference for such patients.

Exploring causality in the association between gut microbiota and irritable bowel syndrome risk: a large Mendelian randomization study.

In the past, some observational studies have highlighted the correlation between gut microbiota and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, it is still unknown if the composition of gut microbiota shows a causal effect on the risk of IBS. To conduct Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of the samples to study the probable causal relationship between the gut microbiota, their taxonomic groups, and the risk of IBS. In this study, the summarized data regarding 211 gut microbiota and their IBS genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were collected from public databases. The causal estimates were determined using five MR techniques, where Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) regression was employed as the major MR technique. Herein, MR-PRESSO and MR-Egger intercept tests were conducted to prevent horizontal pleiotropy. Cochran's Q test was used to evaluate heterogeneity using the IVW and MR-Egger techniques. IVW results showed that gut microbes, belonging to Class Gammaproteobacteria (P = 0.04; OR = 1.45), Family XIII (P = 0.03; OR = 1.34), Family Prevotellaceae (P = 0.003; OR =1.24), and Lachnospiraceae UCG004 (P = 0.049; OR = 1.19) increased the risk of IBS, while Alcaligenaceae (P = 0.03; OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.69-0.98) and Coprobacter (P = 0.02; OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76-0.98) decreased the risk of IBS. This study presented novel insights that highlighted the causal relationship between gut microbiota and IBS, and offered new treatment strategies for preventing or treating IBS.

Frequency and Risk Factors for Post-COVID-19 Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders After One Year

Objectives: In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent emergence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) post-recovery, this study aimed to evaluate the frequency and risk factors associated with FGIDs one year after recovering from COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 357 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 for a year and were seen at Al-Zahra Hospital in 2021. Participants were chosen through simple random sampling. The ROME questionnaire, alongside patients' clinical histories regarding irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its variants, functional dyspepsia (FD), and other GI symptoms, was utilized for data collection. Results: Findings indicated that one year post-COVID-19, the prevalence rates of IBS, GI symptoms, and FD stood at 15.4%, 44.9%, and 9.5%, respectively. It was observed that women had a higher propensity than men to develop these FGIDs (P-value = 0.044). Anxiety was linked to a 1.910-fold increase in IBS risk (P-value = 0.039), a 2.225-fold surge in GI symptoms (P-value &lt; 0.001), and a 1.110-fold rise in FD risk (P-value = 0.042). Moreover, depression was associated with a 1.772-fold and 3.753-fold elevated risk of developing IBS (P-value = 0.040) and FD (P-value &lt; 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The findings suggest that FGIDs such as IBS, FD, and other GI symptoms are significant long-term sequelae of COVID-19 infection. Anxiety and depression appear to be key risk factors for these conditions, with a more pronounced impact observed in women than in men.

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). In this study we aimed to explore the causal association between physical activity or sedentary behavior and the risk of FD and IBS. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed. Candidate genetic instruments for physical activity and sedentary behavior were retrieved from the latest published Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), which included up to 703 901 participants. Summary-level GWAS data for FD (8 875 cases and 320 387 controls) and IBS (9 323 cases and 301 931 controls) were obtained from the FinnGen study. The causal effects were mainly estimated by inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Sensitivity analyses were implemented with Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, leave-one-out analysis, and the funnel plot. No significant association of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), leisure screen time (LST), sedentary behavior at work (SDW), and sedentary commuting (SDC) with the risk of FD was found. However,there was a suggestive correlation between MVPA and the decreased risk of FD (odds ratio [OR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-0.99, P = 0.047). Genetically predicted MVPA decreased the risk of IBS (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.84, P = 0.004), while increased LST was positively associated with IBS risk (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15-1.53, P < 0.001). No causal effects of SDW or SDC on IBS risk were observed. MVPA and LST are causally linked to the development of IBS, which will facilitate primary prevention of IBS.

Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Long-Term Risk of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Study

The considerable disease burden of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has coincided with the increase of ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption over the past few decades. However, epidemiologic evidence is lacking. We aimed to examine the long-term risk of IBS associated with UPF consumption in a large-scale prospective cohort. Participants who completed 24-hour dietary recalls during 2009 to 2012 from the UK Biobank, and free of IBS, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and any cancer at baseline, were included (N= 178,711; 53.1% female). UPF consumption was defined according to the NOVA food classification system, expressed as a percentage of UPF content in the total diet intake (as grams per day). The primary outcome was incident IBS. A Cox proportional hazard model was performed to estimate associated risk. The mean UPF consumption was 21.0% (SD, 11.0%) of the total diet. During a median of 11.3 years of follow-up evaluation, 2690 incident IBS cases were identified. An 8% higher risk of IBS (hazard ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04-1.12) was associated with each 10% increment of UPF consumption. Compared with the lowest quartile of UPF consumption, the highest quartile wasassociated with a significantly increased risk of incident IBS (hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.33; Ptrend < .001). Subgroup analyses by age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol drinking status also showed similar results, except for the never/previous drinking subgroup. Further sensitivity analyses confirmed the positive association with a higher UPF consumption. Our findings provide evidence that a higher UPF consumption is associated with an increased risk of incident IBS, with a significant dose-response relationship.

Major depressive disorder and irritable bowel syndrome risk: A Mendelian randomization study.

Previous studies have revealed a connection between major depressive disorder (MDD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but it remains obscure if the two diseases are related causally. Mendelian randomization was utilized in this investigation to ascertain whether MDD contributed to the emergence of IBS. To examine possible connections between MDD and IBS, we used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) utilizing summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) provided information on genetic associations with MDD (cases: 135,458; controls: 344,901). The Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) provided information on genetic associations with IBS (cases:10,939; controls:451,994). Inverse Variance Weighted (main analyses), MR-Egger regression, Weighted mode, and Weighted Median were the four MR methods used in this investigation. In addition, we also performed multiplicity and heterogeneity analyses to eliminate possible biases. In the standard Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW) method, an increased risk of IBS was linked to a genetic susceptibility to MDD (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.006 to 1.014, p = 1.02E-07). In addition, neither significant heterogeneity (IVW Q = 24.80, p = 0.73) nor horizontal pleiotropy (MR Egger p = 0.17; MRPRESSO p = 0.54) were detected in this MR analysis. The bidirectional analysis, however, did not show a genetic link between IBD and MDD (p steiger <0.01). A direct causal relationship between MDD and IBS was revealed by Mendelian randomization study, which contributes to the effective clinical management of both diseases.

Major depressive disorder and the risk of irritable bowel syndrome: A Mendelian randomization study.

The association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been found in observational research; however, the causative relationship between MDD and IBS remains uncertain. Using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we attempted to examine the causal effect of MDD on IBS. Independent genetic variants for MDD identified by Howard etal. based on a genome-wide meta-analysis were selected for this study. Gene-Outcome associations for IBS were gathered from UK Biobank and FinnGen databases. The MR analysis included inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO sensitivity analyses. FinnGen database subjected to inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis revealed that MDD may be a risk factor for the development of IBS (OR = 1.356, 95% CI: 1.125-1.632, p = 0.0013). The same finding was reached in UK Biobank for IVW (OR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.006-1.015, p = 3.18 × 10-7 ), MR-Egger progression (OR = 1.030, 95% CI: 1.008-1.051, p = 0.007), and weighted median (OR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.005-1.016, p = 0.0001). Our findings supported a causal relationship between MDD and IBS, which may have implications for the clinical management of IBS in individuals with MDD.

Association Between Celiac Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Background & aimsTo determine the risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosis in patients with celiac disease (CD) compared to general population comparators. MethodsUsing Swedish histopathology and register-based data, we identified 27,262 patients with CD diagnosed in 2002-2017 and 132,922 age- and sex-matched general population comparators. Diagnoses of IBS were obtained from nationwide inpatient and non-primary outpatient records. Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (aHRs) for IBS adjusted for education level and Charlson Comorbidity Index. To reduce potential surveillance bias our analyses considered incident IBS diagnosis ≥1 year after CD diagnosis. Using conditional logistic regression, secondary analyses were calculated to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for IBS diagnosis ≥1 year before CD diagnosis. ResultsDuring an average of 11.1 years of follow-up, 732 (2.7%) celiac patients were diagnosed with IBS vs. 1,131 (0.9%) matched general population comparators. Overall (≥1 year of follow-up), the aHR for IBS was 3.11 (95% confidence interval, CI=2.83-3.42), with an aHR of 2.00 (95%CI=1.63-2.45) after ≥10 years of follow-up. Compared to siblings (n=32,010), celiac patients (n=19,211) had a ≥2-fold risk of later IBS (aHR=2.42; 95%CI=2.08-2.82). Compared to celiac patients with mucosal healing, those with persistent villus atrophy on follow-up biopsy were less likely to be diagnosed with IBS (aHR=0.66; 95%CI=0.46-0.95). CD was also associated with having an earlier IBS diagnosis (OR=3.62; 95%CI=3.03-4.34). ConclusionsIn patients with CD, the risk of IBS is increased long before and after diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware of these long-term associations and their implications on patient management.

The association of lifeline diet score (LLDS) with risk of irritable bowel syndrome: case-control study in adult men

PurposeIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. Diet has been identified as a potential modifiable risk factor for IBS, yet its association with IBS risk in the Kurdish adult male population remains understudied. This case-control study aimed to investigate the association between the lifeline diet score (LLDS), a validated tool assessing overall diet quality and the risk of IBS in Kurdish adult men.Design/methodology/approachA total of 200 Kurdish adult men were recruited, comprising 100 IBS patients (cases) and 100 healthy controls without IBS. Medical records and interview questionnaires were used to confirm IBS diagnoses, while detailed dietary questionnaires were administered to assess participants’ dietary habits and calculate their respective LLDS scores. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between LLDS and IBS risk, adjusting for potential confounding factors.FindingsParticipants with higher LLDS scores exhibited a significantly reduced risk of IBS compared to those with lower LLDS scores (OR= 0.38, 95% confidence intervals = 0.18–0.77; p <0.001). The association remained statistically significant even after controlling for potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, age, eating rate, protein, fat, physical activity and body mass index.Originality/valueThis case-control study demonstrates a significant inverse association between the LLDS and the risk of IBS in Kurdish adult men. Higher LLDS scores, indicative of a healthier and more balanced diet, were associated with a decreased risk of IBS. These findings highlight the potential role of dietary patterns in IBS prevention and management within the Kurdish adult male population.

Frequency of irritable bowel syndrome in spondyloarthritis: a multicentric cross-sectional study and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of symptoms and factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in axial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA).MethodsIn a cross-sectional multicentric study, consecutive patients with ax-SpA treated with biologics in...

Particulate matter exposure may increase the risk of irritable bowel syndrome: a large-scale prospective study based on the UK Biobank

Long-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 increases the risk of IBS, especially PM2.5.

Cholecystectomy is associated with a higher risk of irritable bowel syndrome in the UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Recent studies have shown that bile acids are essential in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pathology, and cholecystectomy has direct effects on bile acid metabolism. However, whether cholecystectomy increases the risk of IBS remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between cholecystectomy and IBS risk in the UK Biobank (UKB). Methods: This study is a prospective analysis of 413,472 participants who were free of IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or common benign digestive tract diseases. We identified incidents of IBS through self-reporting or links to primary healthcare and hospitalization data. We evaluated hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviours, comorbidities, and medications. Results: During a median follow-up period of 12.7years, we observed 15,503 new cases of IBS. Participants with a history of cholecystectomy had a 46% higher risk of IBS than those without (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.32-1.60), and further subtype analysis showed that the risk of IBS with diarrhoea was significantly higher than the risk of IBS without diarrhoea (HR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.30-2.25 vs. HR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.28-1.58). The overall covariate-adjusted HRs for IBS were similar between the group with both cholecystectomy and gallstones (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.32-1.58) and the group with cholecystectomy without gallstones (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.36-1.67) when the group without both cholecystectomy and gallstones was used as a reference. The overall covariate-adjusted HR was not significantly different in the group without cholecystectomy with gallstones (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.95-1.47). The positive association of cholecystectomy with IBS risk did not change when stratifying the data based on age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, healthy diet, quality sleep, physical activity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, mental illness, NSAID intake, or acid inhibitor intake. Sensitivity analyses, including propensity score matching analysis and lagging the exposure for two or fouryears, indicated that the effects were robust. Conclusion: Cholecystectomy was associated with a higher risk of IBS, especially IBS with diarrhoea. Additional prospective randomized controlled and experimental studies are warranted to further validate the association and to explore the relevant biological mechanisms.

Correspondence on “Patients with ankylosing spondylitis have high risk of irritable bowel syndrome.”

Correspondence on “Patients with ankylosing spondylitis have high risk of irritable bowel syndrome.”

Association of major depressive disorder and increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome: A population-based cohort study and a two-sample Mendelian randomization study in the UK biobank

ObjectiveTo examine the association between depression and the risk of incident irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). MethodsWe included 98,564 participants free of IBS in the UK biobank. Depression was defined by self-report and Hospital Episode Statistics. The main outcome was incident IBS. Cox proportional hazards regression models and two-sample mendelian randomization were performed to estimate the risk of incident IBS. ResultsAmong 98,564 participants, 8770 (8.9 %) participants had a depression diagnosis at baseline. During a median of 12.9-year follow-up, 224 cases of incident IBS were identified in patients with depression (2.0 per 1000 person-years), compared with 1625 cases in reference individuals (1.5 per 1000 person-years). After adjustment, the hazard ratio of incident IBS associated with depression was 1.26 (95 % CI: 1.01–1.41). Sensitivity analysis indicated similar results. The two-sample mendelian randomization based on the inverse variance weighted method provided evidence for the harmful role of depression in an increased risk of IBS with an OR of 1.57 (95 % CI: 1.24–1.99). LimitationsDepression was mainly measured by self-report online CIDI-SF in the current study, rather than the gold diagnostic criteria including clinical structured interview, which might lead to potential measurement error. Lifestyle behaviors might change during the long-term follow-up, and time-varying covariates (i.e., smoking and alcohol status) may bias the estimate. ConclusionsDepression is associated with an increased risk of incident IBS. Further studies are warranted to confirm the role of depression on incident IBS and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.