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Cause Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
By Dominick Hussey 0 Comments Gut Health , , ,

A Cause Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Mast Cell Activation

Do you live in Ottawa? Are you looking for the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

If so, you are in the right place.

Today, I will discuss the role of mast cell activation as a cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

In This Article:

Let’s begin by looking at what mast cells are.

What Are Mast Cells?

Mast cells are essential and are found in many of the body’s barriers, including the skin and the mucosal lining of the digestive tract.

Mast cells also affect systemic immune responses to pathogens such as bacteria or viruses.

Mast cells can be activated by a wide range of factors, some of which we will talk about later.

They also produce a wide range of immune mediators (small proteins) responding to an invader (e.g., microbes).

Abnormal, chronic activation of mast cells can contribute to a wide range of conditions, including the following:

  • Mastocytosis
  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
  • Respiratory conditions such as seasonal allergies
  • Skin conditions such as Eczema
  • Gastrointestinal disorders

Let’s look at what symptoms chronically activated mast cells play a role in different parts of the GI tract.

What Symptoms To Chronically Activated Mast Cells Produce In The GI Tract?

The chronically activated mast cells produce the following symptoms in The GI tract:

  • Esophageal – heartburn, dysphagia, globus and chest pain.
  • Stomach – Dyspepsia
  • Small and Large intestine – Abdominal pain and discomfort, diarrhea and constipation.

Many of these symptoms overlap common GI conditions such as IBS or Irritable bowel syndrome.

This similarity can make diagnosis difficult; however, we will discuss how, rather than mast cells being a separate cause, they may play a role in the mechanism that produces IBS symptoms.

Let us examine how mast cells orchestrate the immune system’s response to pathogens.

How Mast Cells Orchestrate The Immune Systems Response To Pathogens In The Gut

Mast cells orchestrate the immune system’s response to invaders in the gut by stimulating the release of various immune mediators.

An example of an invader in the gut is food allergies and sensitivities, which stimulate the release of IgE and IgG antigens.

These antigens attach to the Mast cell and stimulate an immune response, including the following:

  • B and T cells are part of your frontline or Adaptive immunity.
  • Mast cells can affect the permeability of the cells that line the gut leading to fluid moving into the gi tract and bloating.
  • Neutrophils, Dendritic cells and Macrophages kill pathogens in the gut.
  • Cytokine and mucous production produce an increased inflammatory response in the gut.
  • Mast cells also play a role in the leaky gut by affecting the Epithelial cells.
  • Mast cells affect the smooth muscle in the gut lining causing poor gut motility and visceral Hypersensitivity. Poor gut motility can lead to IBS.

Let’s examine and look at now what GI conditions are commonly associated with mast cell activation.

What Conditions Are Commonly Associated With Mast Cell Activation?

The GI conditions associated with mast cell activation are split into two main categories, including the following:

Functional GI Disorders

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Functional Dyspepsia – recurring symptoms of an upset stomach that have no apparent cause.

Adverse Food Reactions

  • Food Allergies
  • Food Sensitivities
  • Food Intolerances

Let’s look at the growing scientific evidence of the association between IBS and activated mast cells.

The Growing Scientific Evidence Of An Association Between IBS And Mast Cell Activation

There have been several recent scientific papers concluding an association between IBS and mast cell activation, including the following:

Let’s now look at what factors and mechanisms underlie mast cell activation in the gut.

What Factors And Mechanisms Underlie Mast Cell Activation In The Gut?

Several factors underlie mast cell activation in the gut, including the following:

  • Gastroenteritis or food poisoning
  • Dybiosis includes the overgrowth of bacteria (e.g. staph aureus), h.pylori, Candida and parasites.
  • Chronic stress
  • Past emotional and physical trauma
  • Food allergies and sensitivities

Let’s now summarise what we have found.

What Have We Found?

GI infections and mast cells may play a role in food-triggered symptoms in patients with functional disorders such as IBS (via local IgE responses).

Dybiosis (e.g. Staph Aureus overgrowth) may prime mast cell activation, further promoting food antigen-triggered symptoms.

Now It’s Over To You

Do you suffer from IBS?

Do you understand more about the role of mast cell activation as a cause of irritable bowel syndrome?

Leave me a comment below.

Do You Need Help?

If you need help, I suggest you book a free functional medicine discovery session with me to determine whether my functional medicine approach fits your child’s needs.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. Please do not apply this information without first speaking with your doctor.

Saccharomyces Boulardii Is Good For SIBO
By Dominick Hussey 0 Comments Gut Health , ,

Latest Research: Saccharomyces Boulardii Is Good For SIBO

Do you live in Ottawa? Are you wondering whether the probiotic Saccharomyces Boulardii is good for SIBO?

If so, you are in the right place.

Today I will talk about some latest research that shows that the probiotic Saccharomyces Bourlardi is good for SIBO.

In This Article:

Let’s begin by describing what SIBO is.

What Is SIBO?

SIBO, or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, is a condition in which there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, leading to symptoms such as heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.

The small intestine is where most of our calories and nutrients are absorbed, so the inflammation from SIBO can lead to malabsorption issues.

Furthermore, the small intestines have the body’s highest percentage of immune cells.

SIBO can cause these immune cells to trigger inflammation, affecting the rest of the body.

This inflammation can cause symptoms such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, skin issues, body odour, depression, metabolic disorders, and even malabsorption of thyroid medication.

Let’s look at what Saccharomyces Bourlardi is.

What Is Saccharomyces Bourlardi?

Henry Bourlard discovered Saccharomyces Bourlardii.

Henry Boulard was travelling through Indo-China to discover a new type of yeast for winemaking.

Simultaneously, there was an outbreak of Cholera when Boulard observed that those who drank a particular tea did not have cholera-induced diarrhea.

Later, Boulard isolated the yeast used in the fermentation of the tea, which was Saccharomyces Bourlardi.

Since then, researchers have found Saccharomyces Bourlardi has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-parasitic properties.

Because they have these properties does not mean they are effective as a treatment.

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial is the best scientific way to show the effectiveness of a particular treatment.

Let’s look at a recent study examining whether Saccharomyces Bourlardi’s is good for SIBO.

Latest Research: Saccharomyces Boulardii Is Good For SIBO

A recent study published in January 2023 looked at the effect of Saccharomyces Bourlardii plus a Low Fodmap diet on people with bacterial overgrowth associated with IBS-D and its impact on the intestinal microbiota.

The results of the study showed the following:

  • Reduced Bacterial Overgrowth in the Small Intestines
  • Reduced Abdominal Pain
  • Reduced Diarrhea
  • Restoration of the Microbiota

The study comprised two groups, one on the low Fodmap diet and the other on Saccharomyces Bourlardii plus a Low Fodmap diet.

After two weeks, researchers saw a 40% improvement in SIBO for people on Saccharomyces Bourlardii plus a Low Fodmap diet and 30% for people on the low Fodmap diet.

This confirms typical clinical findings that people usually see symptom improvements after 2-3 weeks.

The typical time to expect optimal symptom changes when taking probiotics is 2-3 months.

Let’s now look at a simple protocol based on the above study.

A Simple SIBO Treatment Protocol Using Saccharomyces Bourlardii.

Based on the study, I recommend taking a Saccharomyces Bourlardii supplement such as Floramyces, one capsule twice daily.

If you do not see any change in your symptoms by the two-week mark, I recommend trying a different type of probiotic.

The two other types of probiotics include the following:

If you see improvements, continue for 2-3 months or until symptoms level out.

If some symptoms remain, you could try introducing another type of the types of probiotics.

Note: If you start a probiotic and get digestive upset for more than 2-3 days, change to a different type.

Now It’s Over To You

Do you suffer from SIBO?

Have you tried taking Saccharomyces Bourlardii?

Did it help your symptoms?

Leave me a comment below.

Do You Need Help?

If you need help, I suggest you book a free functional medicine discovery session with me to determine whether my functional medicine approach fits your child’s needs.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. Please do not apply this information without first speaking with your doctor.