Constipation is more common in people whose intestines have higher levels of a type of methane-producing microbe called archaea, according to a study published in the journal . Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. This discovery could result in more focused treatments for this prevalent gastrointestinal problem. After analyzing data from more than 1,500 people, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that those with a higher rate of intestinal methanogen growth (IMO) were more likely to have symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain and trouble passing gas.
“Our study found that patients with IMO were more likely to have constipation, especially severe constipation, and less likely to have frequent diarrhea,” said the study’s corresponding author Ali Rezaei, MD, medical director of the Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program and director of bioinformatics in the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) program at Cedars-Sinai. “However, patients also reported a variety of other gut-related symptoms, including bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flatulence.”
According to a release Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Constipation is one of the most common gut problems in the United States. About 16% of adults experience bloating, abdominal pain, and difficulty passing stools; this number nearly doubles in people over the age of 60. While many things, such as medication side effects or a lack of dietary fiber, can cause constipation, historically, there has been a lack of research on the role of the gut microbiome in constipation and other digestive problems.
A simple breath test can be used to diagnose IMO. Patients who have excessive levels of methane in their breath may benefit from a combination of antibiotics and a special diet to suppress the growth of archaea in the gut.
“When you have high levels of archaea in your gut, they produce more methane, and some of that methane gets into your bloodstream, then into your lungs, and you breathe it out, where it can be measured as a diagnostic test,” Rezai said. “Essentially, people who have high levels of methane have a lot of GI symptoms, including constipation, bloating, bloating and diarrhea.”
This research is a ray of hope for people suffering from constipation and paves the way for research exploring the connection between the gut microbiome and digestive health.
