Gastro Flash Mother Ace Millenia Vol-10, No-3, 2025

The gut microbiome refers to the trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms colonizing the gastrointestinal tract, which together inhabit the human body and form the microbial community collectively known as the human microbiota. This microbial population plays a vital role in maintaining overall health, supporting human development, immunity, digestion, and nutrient absorption.

Alterations in microbial composition, known as dysbiosis, have been associated with the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases and infections. Such shifts in microbiome structure and function can contribute to disease susceptibility, highlighting the importance of microbiome modulation to restore balance for health maintenance and disease prevention.

IBS is one of the most diagnosed Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID), characterized by altered bowel habits with abdominal discomfort or pain in the absence of structural or biochemical abnormalities. Global FGID prevalence is about 40%, higher in women, while IBS prevalence in India ranges from 0.4% to 4.2%.

Although its exact cause is unknown, several factors contribute to IBS, including altered motility, visceral hypersensitivity, post-infectious changes, brain-gut dysregulation, dysbiosis, bacterial overgrowth, food sensitivity, carbohydrate malabsorption, and intestinal inflammation.

IBS is poorly understood, significantly impairs quality of life, and contributes to morbidity, absenteeism, productivity loss, and economic burden. Lactose intolerance, due to Lactase deficiency, often worsens IBS symptoms through heightened visceral sensitivity.