Khaberni - In a significant shift in understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a large-scale study has revealed that the condition is not merely "functional" as previously thought, but is associated with clear biological changes that involve immune system activity.
According to a report published by Medical Xpress citing a study in the journal eBioMedicine, researchers analyzed data from 124 studies involving about 15,000 people, and found that patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome had indicators of low-grade inflammation compared to healthy individuals.
The results showed a slight increase in the levels of "calprotectin" in the stool, a known marker of inflammation, but these levels were much lower than those recorded in inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.
Distinguishing different types of the disease
The study also noted differences in some immune markers in the blood among types of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, with patients suffering from the diarrhea-predominant type showing a decrease in certain proteins compared to others.
The researchers believe that these differences could help in the future to classify the disease more accurately, instead of treating it as a single condition, paving the way for tailored treatments for each type.
The study suggests that these findings support the existence of a real biological basis for the disease, and not just a disorder associated with psychological conditions or stress, as was commonly believed.
Despite the significance of these indicators, the researchers emphasize that they are still "minor," meaning they do not prove a direct causal relationship, but rather reflect an association that requires more research to precisely understand its mechanisms.
These markers could also help doctors distinguish between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases, especially in cases where symptoms overlap.
These results open the door to reducing the stigma associated with the disease, improving diagnostic accuracy, and developing more customized treatment strategies, which could positively affect the quality of life for patients.
