Researchers from UCLA discovered changes within intestinal microbes that precede and predict the death of fruit flies. The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports.

“Age-onset decline is very tightly linked to changes within the community of gut microbes,” said David Walker, a UCLA professor of integrative biology and physiology, and senior author of the research. “With age, the number of bacterial cells increase substantially and the composition of bacterial groups changes.”

According to a news release from UCLA, the study used fruit flies in part because although their typical life span is just eight weeks, some live to the age equivalent of humans’ 80s and 90s, while others age and die much younger. In addition, scientists have identified all of the fruit fly’s genes and know how to switch individual ones on and off.

In the latest research, which analyzed more than 10,000 female flies, the scientists found that they were able to detect bacterial changes in the intestine before leaking began. (When a fruit fly’s intestine begins to leak, its immune response increases substantially and chronically throughout its body. Chronic immune activation is linked with age-related diseases in people as well, Walker said.)

As part of the study, some fruit flies were given antibiotics that significantly reduce bacterial levels in the intestine; the study found that the antibiotics prevented the age-related increase in bacteria levels and improved intestinal function during aging.

The biologists also showed that reducing bacterial levels in old flies can significantly prolong their life pan.

“When we prevented the changes in the intestinal microbiota that were linked to the flies’ imminent death by feeding them antibiotics, we dramatically extended their lives and improved their health,” Walker said. (Microbiota are the bacteria and other microorganisms that are abundant in humans, other mammals, fruit flies and many other animals.)

“The health of the intestine — in particular the maintenance of the barrier protecting the rest of the body from the contents of the gut — is very important and might break down with aging,” said Rebecca Clark, the study’s lead author. Clark was a UCLA postdoctoral scholar when the research was conducted and is now a lecturer at England’s Durham University.

Walker said that the study could lead to realistic ways for scientists to intervene in the aging process and delay the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other diseases of aging — although such progress could take many years, he said.

Probiotics

There is some preliminary evidence that suggests these microorganisms may improve symptoms of IBS; however, benefits have not been conclusively demonstrated, and not all probiotics have the same effects. The American College of Gastroenterology said last year that “taken as a whole, probiotics improve global symptoms, bloating, and flatulence in IBS.” At the same time, the NCCIH experts say, they can’t make recommendations for the use of probiotics because there isn’t enough reliable data.

The side effects are minor or nonexistent for healthy people, experts say. But underlying health problems, such as weakened immune systems, can cause serious complications, including infections.

Hypnotherapy

According to the NCCIH, some studies have indicated that hypnotherapy could be of use for IBS, including gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, depression, disability, and health-related quality of life. But the American College of Gastroenterology says the quality of evidence supporting the use of hypnotherapy is “very low,” the NCCIH experts say.

The NCCIH says hypnosis directed at treating IBS is generally considered safe and tolerable among children and adults when led by licensed hypnotherapists with special training in this technique.

Peppermint Oil

The experts acknowledge that there is some evidence that enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules may be modestly efficacious, in the short-term, in reducing several common symptoms of IBS, especially abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. It’s not yet known whether peppermint oil is effective in the long term. Additionally, the quality of evidence is seen as just “moderate.”

Herbs and homeopathic medicine have been tested less frequently and have shown even less evidence of effectiveness.

The best thing you can do, if you think you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is to consult your health-care practitioner for more mainstream options.

The findings, by researchers from the University of Toronto, were published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

“Patients with IBD face substantial chronic physical problems associated with the disease,” said lead-author Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman Endowed Chair at U of T’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “The additional burden of anxiety disorders makes life much more challenging so this ‘double jeopardy’ must be addressed.”

According to a news release from the university, previous studies have shown a link between depression and IBD; however, anxiety disorders are more common than depressive disorders with an estimated 15 per cent of Americans experiencing an anxiety disorder at some time. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fearfulness and worry about a variety of everyday problems, with sympotms worsening during times of stress.

Investigators said that female IBD sufferers were particularly vulnerable to anxiety disorders. Women with IBD had four times the odds of anxiety when compared to men with IBD, said Fuller-Thomson.

The researchers looked at a representative sample of more than 22,000 Canadians, the 2012 Canadian Community Health Study: Mental Health. A total of 269 respondents reported that they had been diagnosed by a health professional with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, both of which are categorized as IBD.

“The study draws attention to the need for routine screening and targeted interventions for anxiety disorders,” said co-author and adjunct lecturer Joanne Sulman. “Particularly among the most vulnerable patients with IBD: women, individuals who are in chronic pain and those with a history of childhood sexual abuse.”

Patrick McGowan, an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough, says the study underlines the important link between physical and mental health.

“We sometimes think of the two as if they are entirely separate entities but the reality is they are intimately linked,” said McGowan.“ Both involve genuine physical changes in the body and affect each other.

No one remedy works for all patients, so there’s a great medical need to develop new therapies for IBS, says Andrew Mulberg, M.D., a gastroenterologist with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That’s why FDA is working to bring more treatments to the market.

“There’s a lot of new research about the role of carbohydrates, and specifically a nutrient called polyols, in triggering irritable bowel syndrome in some patients,” Mulberg says. “In addition, doctors, scientists and researchers are more closely examining the role of diet in IBS causes and treatments.”

What Is IBS?

IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine (colon) but doesn’t cause inflammation or permanent damage. Common symptoms of IBS include:

Diarrhea

Constipation

Abdominal pain, bloating or cramping

Gas

Mucus in the stool

The symptoms may come and go, and can change in the same patient. Sometimes the pain from IBS can be so severe that it’s disabling and patients can’t do routine things. In addition, severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance.

Certain foods and drinks can trigger IBS symptoms in some patients. The most common are foods rich in carbohydrates, spicy or fatty foods, milk products, coffee, alcohol and caffeine.

There is no known cure. Studies estimate that as many as 20% of Americans suffer from IBS. Many people may not know they have this gastrointestinal disorder. They might have occasional diarrhea and constipation and think it’s caused by something they ate, or a virus, so they don’t see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. When they do, doctors must first rule out that the symptoms aren’t caused by a disease or another condition.

“There are many conditions that have a female or male predominance, but we don’t understand why women have a higher prevalence of IBS,” says Mulberg, deputy director of FDA’s Division of Gastroenterology and Inborn Errors Products (DGIEP).

IBS is most common among people younger than 45, and patients usually first experience symptoms when they’re in their late 20s. People who have a family history of IBS are also more likely to develop the condition.

Depression, anxiety and other psychological problems are common in people with IBS, Mulberg says.

“Some people suffer from depression and IBS. The question is what’s primary or secondary – what came first?” he says. “Either way, antidepressants are not a cure for IBS.”

What You Can Do

Treatments for IBS vary from patient to patient and include changes in diet, nutrition and exercise. Some patients need stool softeners to treat constipation; others need antidiarrheal drugs to treat diarrhea.

“IBS is not like other chronic conditions, such as hypertension, which is constant. IBS is a variable condition. Even without treatment, the problem might go away in some patients. But the symptoms might return after a few months,” says Ruyi He, M.D., an internist and medical team leader with DGIEP.

No one medication works for all people suffering from IBS.

Most recently, FDA approved Linzess (linaclotide) to treat some adults who suffer from IBS with constipation and for chronic idiopathic constipation. Chronic idiopathic constipation is a diagnosis given to those who experience persistent constipation and do not respond to standard treatment. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 63 million people have chronic constipation.

In addition, FDA has approved Amitiza (lubiprostone) for IBS with constipation and one drug for IBS with diarrhea, Lotronex (alosetron).

“Drugs are a last option. Patients should try diet and lifestyle changes, especially exercise, before resorting to medication,” he says.

Courtesy of FDA Consumer Health Information. For more information on health and safety issues, visit the FDA’s Consumer Updates page; click here.