Abstract
Purpose: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Treatment typically focuses on symptom management without addressing underlying causes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between inflammatory markers and gut microbiome changes in individuals with IBS.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases was conducted in June 2024, identifying 41 studies that compared inflammatory markers and gut microbial composition in patients with IBS versus healthy controls. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model, reporting standard mean differences (SMD) for inflammatory markers and mean differences (MD) for microbiome data, with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results: The results showed significantly elevated pro-inflammatory markers in individuals with IBS, including Interleukin (IL)-6 (SMD = - 2.64), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α (SMD = - 1.97), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR, SMD = - 0.98), and fecal calprotectin (FC, SMD = - 0.42), while IL-10 was lower (SMD = 2.00). Microbiome analysis revealed increased Bacteroidetes (MD = - 15.92) and decreased Firmicutes (MD = 16.85) in people with IBS.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that inflammation and gut microbial imbalance contribute to IBS, warranting further studies on their interplay and impact on the typical symptoms seen in IBS.