You’ve been told forever that fiber is good for your gut, and it’s a good way to treat irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. The downside is fiber causes bloating. New research could end that side effect and create a break-through treatment for other serious health problems.Submit
Shannon McKinney has always been active, and tries to watch her diet. But for years, her “tummy troubles” have gotten in the way.
McKinney told Ivanhoe, “My friend used to call me Winnie the Pooh in college.”
It wasn’t funny as Shannon got older, and realized she had IBS, irritable bowel syndrome.
“You can’t just cure symptoms. You have to get to the underlying issue, and of course, you grow older and wiser,” she said.
IBS can be treated with lots of fiber, as much as 20 to 30 grams a day.
“The problem is, available fibers that we have make people bloated and miserable and they don’t take them,” said Ali Keshavarzian, MD, Gastroenterologist at Rush Medical Center in Chicago.
SubmitTraditional fiber metabolizes in the gut very quickly, which is what causes bloating. Dr. Keshavarzian is helping develop a new, all-natural designer fiber that the body processes slowly.
Dr. Keshavarzian told Ivanhoe, “It can be used potentially for a wide range of diseases that have already been shown to be associated with abnormal bacteria.”
It’s too early to tell if the new fiber is more effective at treating IBS, but so far, Dr. Keshavarzian has proven it doesn’t cause fiber’s other nasty side effects.
Shannon is taking part in the fiber study. She says if the findings are positive she’ll make it part of her daily routine. “It’s going to be awesome and I can’t wait. I’ll be the first one in line,” she said.
Researchers say further studies are needed to determine if the designer fiber could also help patients struggling with obesity, Parkinson’s or Crohn’s disease. Researchers expect to see IBS study results in the next 18 months Submitto two years.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Andy Roesgen, Field Producer; Cortni Spearman, Assistant Producer and Jamison Koczan, Editor.
