We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Diarrhea- and Constipation-Predominant IBS Patients Differ in Postprandial Autonomic and Cortisol Responses.
- Authors
Elsenbruch, Sigrid; Orr, William C.
- Abstract
OBJECTIVE: As the primary link between brain and gut, autonomic and endocrine dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to assess autonomic. endocrine, and symptomatic responses to food intake in diarrhea-predominant and constipation predominant IBS patients, compared to normals. METHODS: Twelve women with diarrhea-predominant or alternating IBS (IBS-D). 12 women with constipation predominant IBS (IBS-C), and 20 healthy women participated. GI symptoms, saliva cortisol concentration, heart rate, and heart rate variability were assessed at baseline and after a meal. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability was used as a measure of the sympathovagal regulation of the heart rate. RESULTS: Both groups of IBS patients showed a significant postprandial increase in GI symptoms. IBS-D showed a significant increase in the low frequency/high frequency band ratio and a decrease in the high frequency band power during the first postmeal period, which was significantly different, not only from controls, but also from IBS-C. IBS-D also showed a significant postprandial increase in cortisol, which was not evident in controls or IBS-C. There was a significant correlation between the vagal response and the postprandial increase in GI symptoms in IBS-D (r = 0.6. p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the notion that the IBS symptom groups are characterized by different physiological responses to visceral stimuli, and point to a role of autonomic pathways in IBS symptomatology.
- Subjects
IRRITABLE colon; DIARRHEA; CONSTIPATION; HYDROCORTISONE; PATHOLOGICAL physiology; ENDOCRINE glands
- Publication
American Journal of Gastroenterology (Springer Nature), 2001, Vol 96, Issue 2, p460
- ISSN
0002-9270
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03526.x