Gut microbiome and symptoms in females with irritable bowel syndrome: a cross-sectional analysis.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder of gut-brain interaction, is associated with abdominal pain and stool frequency/character alterations that are linked to changes in microbiome composition. We tested whether taxa differentially abundant between females with IBS vs healthy control females (HC) are associated with daily gastrointestinal and psychological symptom severity. Participants (age 18-50 year) completed a 3-day food record and collected a stool sample during the follicular phase. They also completed a 28-day diary rating symptom intensity; analysis focused on the three days after the stool sample collection. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for bacterial identification. Taxon abundance was compared between IBS and HC using zero-inflated quantile analysis (ZINQ). We found that females with IBS (n = 67) had greater Bacteroides abundance (q = 0.003) and lower odds of Bifidobacterium presence (q = 0.036) compared to HC (n = 46) after adjusting for age, race, body mass index, fibre intake, and hormonal contraception use. Intestimonas, Oscillibacter, and Phascolarctobacterium were more often present and Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Collinsella, Coprococcus 2, Moryella, Prevotella 9, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 were less commonly present in IBS compared to HC. Despite multiple taxon differences in IBS vs HC, we found no significant associations between taxon presence or abundance and average daily symptom severity within the IBS group. This may indicate the need to account for interactions between microbiome, dietary intake, metabolites, and host factors.

Dietary patterns, beliefs and behaviours among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of incurable gastrointestinal diseases that are common among young adults. The present study aimed to describe dietary intake, self-modifications and beliefs among adults aged 18-35 years with IBD and to compare those with active versus inactive disease. National guidelines for daily intake include: 34 g of fibre for males and 28 g of fibre for females, 3 oz of whole grains, 1000 mg of calcium, <10% of added sugars, three cups of dairy, 2.5 cups of vegetables and two cups of fruit. METHODS: Individuals with a diagnosis of IBD were recruited online using convenience sampling (n = 147). Data included a dietary screening questionnaire, self-directed diet modifications, dietary beliefs questionnaire and demographics. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to compare those with active versus inactive disease. RESULTS: The sample was predominantly female (90%) and diagnosed with Crohn's disease (64%). Daily intake for females was 9.7 g of fibre, 0.3 oz of whole grains, 683.8 g of calcium, 1.1 of cups vegetables and 0.5 of cups fruit. Daily intake for males was 14.2 g of fibre, 0.4 oz of whole grains, 882.9 g of calcium, 1.4 cups of vegetables and 0.5 cups of fruit. Participants most often modified fibre (73%), fruits and vegetables (71%), grains (67%), and dairy (66%) as a result of their IBD. Eighty-three percent believed that modifying their diet could reduce IBD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Both men and women with IBD struggle to meet the national guidelines for intake of fibre, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The majority reported modifying their dietary intake as a result of IBD and expressed belief that diet could reduce symptoms.

[Fish-caused illness: notify food-related outbreaks to the Municipal Health Services]. / Ziek door vis.

BACKGROUND: When two or more people fall ill after eating the same food, this is called an outbreak of food poisoning or food-related infection. In the Netherlands, physicians have to notify the Municipal Health Services (GGD) of such outbreaks. The GGD informs the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). CASE DESCRIPTION: Two clusters of scombroid poisoning (histamine poisoning in this case after eating tuna) occurred in one month. Due to the quick reporting of patients by physicians, the GGD and the NVWA immediately tracked down the source. In both clusters the NVWA confirmed high histamine levels in tuna. In reaction to these findings and the first cluster, the supplier recalled the tuna batch. This may have prevented other cases of food poisoning. In the second cluster, the implicated tuna batch had already been sold. CONCLUSION: Timely notification by physicians of food poisoning or food-related outbreaks to the GGD enables swift tracing of the source and appropriate measures by the GGD and the NVWA..