Study offers hope for IBS treatment
The collaboration between microbiology and medicine at the university and access to hospital equipment have been crucial, according to Tatiana Marques and Rebecca Wall.
Researchers at Örebro University have made a significant advance in understanding the intestinal condition IBS. For the first time, they have demonstrated directly in the human intestine that butyric acid can bolster the gut. The study provides new hope for future treatments of common issues affecting hundreds of thousands of Swedes.
“We identified a gap in the research: effects had been demonstrated in cell studies and animal experiments, but the direct impact on the human intestine had been less explored,” says Rebecca Wall, researcher in microbiology at Örebro University.
Smörsyra är en kortkedjig fettsyra som bildas när tarmbakterier bryter ner kostfibrer. Den fungerar som den främsta energikällan för cellerna i tjocktarmen och bidrar till att stärka tarmväggens barriärfunktion. Låga nivåer av smörsyra har i studier kopplats till ökad genomsläpplighet i tarmen – ibland kallad ”läckande tarm” – vilket kan vara en del av förklaringen till vissa magbesvär hos personer med IBS.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that often lacks effective treatment. IBS can cause diarrhoea, constipation, pain, and stomach cramps, which frequently affect the quality of everyday life for many sufferers.
Monitored changes in real time
Researchers have long suspected that individuals suffering from IBS produce less butyric acid, which can affect the protective barrier of the intestine and contribute to symptoms. Butyric acid is naturally produced by intestinal bacteria when we eat a fibre-rich diet. Although butyric acid has been studied in both laboratory models and clinical studies, knowledge is still limited about how it influences intestinal function in the human gut in real time.
“Hopefully, this study will advance medical research and lead to a cure for IBS, an intestinal disorder that impairs the lives of so many people,” says Rebecca Wall.
A complex study – even for patients
The researchers isolated a section of the colon using inflatable balloons (a colonoscopic model). There, they were able to administer a controlled amount of butyric acid and then take tissue samples before and after exposure.
“It was very challenging to carry out. We’re grateful to the volunteers who participated and lay still for many hours while they were being examined. Access to the hospital’s equipment has also been crucial for this study,” says Tatiana Marques, a researcher in microbiology at Örebro University.
The study examined how butyric acid can protect the gut in both healthy individuals and those with IBS. Results show that butyric acid enhances the colon’s resistance to stress. This results in reduced intestinal permeability in people with IBS. The findings suggest that butyric acid can reinforce the colon’s barrier and support the idea that it could be a promising treatment for IBS in the future.
Text: Björn Sundin
Photo: Björn Sundin
Translation: Jerry Gray