Nutrients. 2023 Mar 28;15(7):1647. doi: 10.3390/nu15071647.

Claudia Di Rosa ¹, Annamaria Altomare ^2 3, Vittoria Terrigno ¹, Florencia Carbone ⁴, Jan Tack ⁴, Michele Cicala ^2 3, Michele Pier Luca Guarino ^2 3

Author information

¹Research Unit of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21-00128 Roma, Italy.

²Research Unit of Gastroenterology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21-00128 Roma, Italy.

³Operative Research Unit of Gastroenterology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200-00128 Roma, Italy.

⁴Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain associated with defecation or a change in bowel habits. The pathogenesis of IBS is not completely clear, but it is known to be multifactorial and complex. Endogenous and exogenous factors such as abnormal GI motility, low-grade inflammation, increased epithelial permeability and visceral hypersensitivity, but diet and psychosocial aspects are also recognized as important actors. Furthermore, the interaction between diet and gut microbiota has gained interest as a potential contributor to the pathophysiology of IBS. To date, there is no specific diet for IBS with constipation (IBS-C); however, many studies show that fiber intake, especially soluble fiber such as inulin, could have a positive effect on symptoms. This review aims to evaluate the effects of some nutritional components such as fibers but also functional foods, prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics on symptoms and microbiota in IBS-C subjects.