IBS Resources

Mirrored from Aurametrix

IBS is a disorder of heterogeneous pathophysiology for which there are no good diagnostic tests nor effective treatments (online study on unmet needs conducted by IFFGD and UNC). Existing tests are performed to exclude diseases such as IBD, colorectal cancer, diseases associated with malabsorption, systemic hormonal disturbances, and enteric infections.
Routine serologic screening for celiac sprue in patients with IBS-D or IBS-M may be useful.
Lactose intolerance can cause IBS-D, intolerances to other food groups such as

Image via Wikipedia

fructose could be also implicated. Problems with serotonin signaling, or the transmission of messages between the nerves, can lead to IBS-C

• New Guidelines Issued for Management of IBS (download pdf)
  

The guidelines, issued by the American College of Gastroenterology were published in the January2009 issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Most IBS treatments relieve symptoms rather than resolve the condition itself.

The new guidelines encompass existing evidence on conventional treatments for IBS as well as new therapies (probiotics, for example) and alternative therapies (acupuncture and more).

Fiber products -- including psyllium, anti-spasmodic medications and peppermint oil -- may be effective in some people. "The evidence is poor, but some patients say they feel better,"

More data is needed on probiotics, live microorganisms (usually bacteria) similar to the "good" organisms found normally in the gut. The dichotomous data suggest that all probiotic
therapies have a trend for being efficacious in IBS, whereas the
continuous data indicate that Lactobacilli have no impact on
symptoms; probiotic combinations improve symptoms; and
there is a trend for Bi fidobacteria to improve IBS symptoms.Researchers and practitioners still need to figure out the species of bacteria used, how many species, and dosages.

Non-absorbable antibiotics -- those targeted to the gut only, such as rifaximin (Xifaxan) -- also seem to help some people, especially those who have "diarrhea-predominant IBS."

Selective C-2 chloride channel activators, notably lubiprostone (Amitiza), are effective for "constipation-predominant IBS."
5HT 3 antagonists such as alosetron (Lotronex) relieve symptoms of diarrhea but can cause constipation and colon ischemia, a restriction of blood flow.
5HT 4 agonists, though effective against constipation, are not available in North America because of a heightened risk of cardiovascular problems.

There is yet to be conclusive evidence on Chinese herbal mixtures, and the mixtures run the risk of causing liver failure and other problems. Differences in the content of compounds and the purity of ingredients complicate evaluation of benefits.

Similarly, the evidence on acupuncture remains inconclusive.

There is no evidence at this point that testing for food allergies or following diets that exclude certain foods alleviates IBS symptoms.

Routine diagnostic testing for IBS is not recommended, although some testing should be performed in certain subgroups of patients.

More about IBS at the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases site.

• IBS medications: http://www.ibsgroup.org/medications. compiled by IBS Self Help and Support Group
  

To ease IBS with diarrhea, avoid fried foods, too much fiber, especially insoluble such as apple skins, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, the artificial sweetener sorbitol (found in sugarless gum and mints), and fructose (the simple sugar found in honey and many fruits). These can worsen diarrhea symptoms. Drink six to eight glasses of plain water a day - not with meals, but an hour before or an hour after meals. Avoid drinking hot teas.

To ease IBS with constipation, drink water and exclude beverages as suggested above. Eat small frequent meals and be careful with fiber. Soluble is better at reducing severety of symptoms, as was shown in this 2005-2007 clinical trial, but all types of fiber could potentially worsen the syndrome. You may also want to exclude broccoli and other dark green vegetables from your diet. Keep an IBS symptom journal, it would help you and your doctor to find what foods and situations trigger your IBS symptoms.

Not Censored IBS Diet Links:

• IBS Resources from About.com
• IBS diet and recipes from helpforibs
  
• Diet for IBS by Diettrific
  
• IBS Diet suggestions
  
• IBS Diet Resources

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome / IBS Health Center - WebMD

• Irritable bowel syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Irritable bowel syndrome - MayoClinic.com

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Family Doctor

• IBS articles on pubmed
  
• IBS Video from NHS
  
• Coping with IBS by WebMD
• American College of Gastroenterology
• International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Symptoms f IBS by symptomsofibs.org
  
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Association folded into the INS support group in 2009
• IBS Resource on Squidoo
• Irritating IBS on Diabetes Self-Management Blog
• Managing IBS by American Family Physician
  
• is IBS linked to foods?
  
• Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome © Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  
  

More Links:

• The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group is an award-winning patient advocate group in support of self-management for IBS sufferers. Learn how sufferers are living day-to-day with IBS. Read success stories about strategies that sufferers use to cope with IBS. At the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self Help and Support Group: You are not alone
• IBS group on twitter
• Digestive Health SmartBrief News and Briefs on Digestive Health and Foodborne illnesses
  
• Body Odor Support Group: An online support group for people with all types of body odor disorders, including TMAU, IBS and other medically not recognized or characterized conditions.
• Only 8% of IBS patients are satisfied with existing solutions, many agree to assume risks to be symptom free
• Unmet needs of IBS patients (view survey report (pdf))
  
• Children whose celiac disease is detected early do better over time

  Image via Wikipedia

• From 3% to 10% of IBS also have celiac disease
• Too much fruit is not good for you
• Daily recommended fiber intake
• 45% of IBS patients have lactose intolerance
• 65% of children with IBS have SIBO

• Diarrhea-prominent IBS: wheat, beef, pork, and soybean. Constipation-prominent IBS: wheat, lamb, beef, and pork. Alternating IBS: wheat, beef, and pork, 2005 study

• IBS is on the rise Dr. Hildreth
• IBS is on the rise, Times of India
  
• Fructose and IBS by Dr. Mirkin
• Fructose, Sucrose and IBS, by D. Brown
• Food additives, packaging chemicals and IBS
  
• Dr. Groves on IBS and other unrecognized health conditions

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) sites:

Chronic Constipation	aboutConstipation.org
Acid Reflux Disease (GERD)	aboutGERD.org
Motility Disorders	aboutGImotility.org
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)	aboutIBS.org IAMIBS.org
Incontinence or Urgency	aboutIncontinence.org
Digestive Disorders in Kids and Teens	aboutKidsGI.org
Digestive Health Research	giResearch.org

• Y! answers
• IBS Blood test by Prometheus
• Only 8% of IBS patients are satisfied with existing solutions, many agree to assume risks to be symptom free, results from a survey based on 1,966 qualifying responses (see pdf-formatted report)
  

Participate in IBS survey

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• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Around the Web (fightingfatigue.org)
• ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia & IBS News Around the Web (fightingfatigue.org)
• IBS Relief (5min.com)
• Resources: IBS Message Boards/Online Support Groups (fightingfatigue.org)
• Bowel Problems ~ Symptoms Diagnosis by a Doctor (healthhype.com)

Aurametrix is an early phase company working on better tools for a healthier world.

Dietary Supplements

Mirrored from Aurametrix

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Over 50% of people around the globe take supplements, as seen from the polls below. This map (click for interactive version) shows results of a bodybuilding supplements poll:

Snapshots of these open polls (4 open polls, click on the image or a hyperlink to participate or see most recent results), show that most people take vitamins but most of those taking herbal supplements feel so-so about them as they did not observe 'amazing results'.

What's your best mood-mending commodity?

• Omega-3’s up the optimism
• Vitamin D: Sunshine in a bottle
• Vegan chocolate cheesecake
  

Created on January 25, 2009 by sfcolleen Ends January 25, 2010

View Results (pick your choice again)

Which healthy supplements do you live by?

Created on May 1, 2009 by John Gamble

	Whey Protein
	Healthy Fats (Olive Oil, Omega-3...)
	Green foods (Chlorella...)
	Wheat Grass
	Juice Blends (Acai, Noni...)
	Tea (Yerba Mate, Green...)
	Other (Vitamins...)

Show results

US Nutritional Supplements Market is Set to Top $6 Billion by 2011, according to 2006 estimations. In 2007, Americans spent around $20 billion on herbal supplements. By the year 2006, the UK supplement market was valued at $827 million. By 2011, its expected to be worth $868 million. The global nutraceuticals industry sales are forecast to touch $187 billion by 2010, owing to increasing sales in the U.S. and the European Union (EU), as also within the emerging markets like China and India. The estimated prevalence of dietary-supplement use among US adults was 73% in 2002. Nearly four in ten Americans have used herbal supplements such as Echinacea, St. John's Wort, Saw Palmetto and others to try to help a medical problem or as part of their regular diet. Interestingly, unlike the most current results, in 2006 and 2007 most who have tried supplements thought they were are effective, according to CBS News polls, shown below.

Have You Taken Herbal Supplements

(Men)

Yes
31%
No
69%

(Women)

Yes
45%
No
55%


There are also regional differences: Americans who live in the West (44 percent) and East (42 percent) are more likely to have tried supplements than those in the south (36 percent) or Midwest (32 percent).

Do You Think Herbal Supplements Are Generally Helpful?
(All respondents)

Yes
44%
No
33%

Most women and men who have tried supplements think they are generally effective.

Most Americans -55 percent - say they have heard at least something about herbal supplements – and women are more likely than men to have heard a lot. Most men say they've heard little or nothing.

How Much Have You Heard About Herbal Supplements?
(All respondents)

A lot
20%
No
35%
Not much/Some
44%


Younger people under 30 are the most likely to have not heard much about herbal supplements.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.
Interviews were conducted among 993 adults by telephone on January 13, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points.

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Favorite Exercise Polls & Discussions

Most people exercise by walking or running or use gym machines, bodybuilders favor deads & squats, the rest of us try to do a little while on vacation. What about you?
OPEN POLLS:

• What's your favorite cardio exercise?
• Do you exercise while on vacation?

DISCUSSIONS:

• Favorite & Least Favorite Exercise
• Exercises you like vs. Exercises you dis-like