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For many people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there are days when the thought of socializing, dining out, going to work, or even just leaving the house can fill them with apprehension. Symptoms like bloating, stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea can be embarrassing and make life difficult — but a new breakthrough remedy is providing relief for millions of sufferers.
IBS is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder affecting one in five adults — approximately 13 million people in the UK, according to the NHS. Most sufferers live in fear of consuming something that may trigger symptoms such as stomach cramps, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
Symptoms can fluctuate and may last for days, weeks, or even months. Moreover, many patients feel too embarrassed to discuss it. “IBS is often trivialized as a condition merely in one’s head,” states Peter Whorwell, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester. “However, dealing with its physical and emotional effects can be extremely challenging. Many sufferers may also contend with fatigue, backache, joint pains, and psychological issues like anxiety due to its intrusiveness.”
The primary symptoms affect the bowel. “IBS-D (with diarrhea) results in frequent, loose bowel movements and an urgent need for the toilet,” mentions Prof Whorwell. “For many people, this happens every time they eat. Such urgency is common in individuals with IBS-D and IBS-M (mixed bowel habits).” Incontinence can also be a considerable issue. Research published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences indicates that it affects around a fifth of IBS patients.
“Approximately two-thirds of IBS patients I see in tertiary care (specialist medical care) struggle with this,” says Prof Whorwell. “Some adopt abnormal strategies like avoiding food or finding excuses not to socialize. With IBS-C (with constipation), an individual can go more than a week without a bowel movement.”
Although the exact cause of IBS remains unknown, a recent review in the medical journal BMC Medicine points to factors such as dietary, environmental, genetic, psychological, and microbiome imbalances that may increase the risk of developing the condition.
“There is no cure,” says Prof Whorwell. “But, it can go from being a major problem to a minor nuisance – and that’s the goal.”
Recent IBS treatment guidelines recommend dietary advice, regular exercise, psychological interventions, probiotics and medications to target common symptoms. A new study of 120 people in the Neurogastro-enterology & Motility journal reveals more than 90% of patients with IBS-D and IBS-M gained effective relief and improved quality of life when treated with enterosorbent silicolgel. This is an over-the-counter liquid oral gel containing silicic acid. After four weeks of treatment, patients reported a significant improvement in symptoms.
“We know certain types of abnormal gut bacteria release toxic chemicals that may trigger IBS,” says Prof Whorwell. “Silicolgel is an enterosorbent. It’s not a drug, but classified as a medical device you can buy over the counter.
“Enterosorbents bind to and ‘hoover up’ toxins which are then passed out of the body and got rid of that way. Unlike medications, enterosorbents, are not absorbed. So, there are no side-effects. The result of this study suggest that enterosorbents may play an important part in the future management of IBS-D and IBS-M and should be added to treatment options.”
