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While categorized as a digestive disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects far more than the digestive tract. The most common symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea, all of which not only cause physical discomfort, but also have a significant impact on a quality of life and mental health.

FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, monosaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) reduction may be clinically beneficial in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the mechanism is not fully understood.

People with celiac disease often experience a long journey before being diagnosed with celiac disease. Delays in diagnosis prevent treatment of the symptoms and leads to significant quality of life disruption. A recent survey of people with celiac disease and their relatives examined the experiences that patients had on their way to diagnosis and provided insights as to how their situation could have been improved.

While strides have been made in recent years, accurate and timely diagnosis of celiac disease remains a challenge. Diagnosis is a multi-step process that includes clinical history, serology, histology, and symptom improvement and antibody response following transition to a gluten-free diet.

While a balanced diet remains a cornerstone in promoting digestive function, current understanding of the gut-brain axis highlights the important role sleep, exercise, stress, and other psychological factors play in maintaining GI homeostasis.

Recent studies seek to assess how probiotic, prebiotic, fermented foods, polyphenols and foods with resistant starch may support increased abundance and resilience of beneficial (commensal) microbes in patients with dysbiosis, though evidence to support their use remains limited to date.

A large focus in the treatment of IBS and other gastrointestinal conditions is regulation of intestinal permeability and promotion of intestinal barrier function.

Therapy for Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) recommends complete elimination of gluten from the diet. A recent study by Scricciolo et al. investigated whether novel enzymes, designed to help metabolize gluten, can support reintroduction of gluten without triggering symptoms.

For patients with digestive distress, dietary changes are the cornerstone of symptom management. However, for a specific set of patients, other lifestyle changes and targeted use of supplements may also play a role in supporting optimal digestion and resolving leaky gut, inflammation, and dysbiosis.