Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, yet it remains widely misunderstood. Marked by recurring symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, IBS can significantly affect quality of life1.
On World IBS Day, raising awareness means improving understanding: what IBS is, what it is not, and why clearer information matters for people living with this condition every day.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome vs Inflammatory Bowel Disease
First of all, it is important to distinguish Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) from Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as from other organic gastrointestinal conditions, including diverticular disease and colorectal cancer. Although these disorders may sometimes present with overlapping symptoms, they differ substantially in their underlying mechanisms, clinical features, and management.
Unlike IBD, IBS does not cause the chronic intestinal inflammation or visible bowel damage seen in conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Nor is it typically associated with the abnormal findings that would suggest an ongoing inflammatory process. As the name itself suggests, IBS is a syndrome, meaning a cluster of symptoms that tend to occur together and define a specific clinical picture, but with multiple causes that cannot be traced back to a single mechanism. For this reason, diagnosis can be more challenging for clinicians and more stressful for patients. It also often takes longer, as symptoms may need to be assessed over time and other conditions excluded first2.
Today, IBS is considered one of the most common disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel habits. It is amultifactorial condition whose pathophysiology has not yet been fully clarified. Among the mechanisms most frequently involved are visceral hypersensitivity, alterations in intestinal motility, dysregulation of the gut-brain axis, mild mucosal immune activation, genetic factors, psychosocial factors, food intolerances, alterations in the intestinal barrier, and changes in the microbiota and its metabolites3.
In this context, increasingly solid evidence is emerging that an altered composition of the gut microbiota, together with changes in the production of microbial metabolites and neuroactive compounds, may contribute to abnormal communication between the gut and the central nervous system, thereby worsening symptoms and perpetuating the disorder.
Not All Forms of IBS Are the Same
IBS is classified into four main subtypes according to the predominant symptom: IBS With Constipation (IBS-C), IBS with Diarrhea (IBS-D), Mixed IBS (IBS-M), and Unclassified IBS (IBS-U)4.
Although it is often trivialized, IBS is a highly prevalent condition. Its global prevalence is estimated at around 4.1%, with significant geographical differences. IBS-C and IBS-M each account for approximately one third of diagnoses, followed by IBS-D and, to a lesser extent, IBS-U. Women and people under the age of 50 are more frequently affected5.
The Socioeconomic Burden of IBS: Health, Costs, and Quality of Life
One of the most important aspects highlighted in recent studies is the socioeconomic impact of IBS. The cost of this syndrome is not limited to medical visits, tests, medications, or hospital admissions.
According to data reported in the literature, the average total quarterly cost per patient with IBS was €2,156, including €802 in direct costs and €1,354 in indirect costs. But the larger share of the economic burden derives not so much from healthcare management itself, but from the impairment of the patient’s productive capacity and quality of life.
One study shows that IBS generates both direct costs, related to healthcare, and indirect costs, related to productivity loss, absenteeism, reduced efficiency while working, and, more broadly, the burden the condition places on the organization of daily life. Pain, bloating, altered bowel habits, a sense of heaviness, social limitations, and emotional impact make IBS a chronic condition with a high individual and societal impact6.
The Role of Nutrition in IBS Management
Dietary management represents one of the first therapeutic approaches in patients with IBS, also because many individuals report a worsening of symptoms after the intake of certain foods.
Traditionally, first-line management includes lifestyle modifications and general dietary advice. Among the most studied approaches is the low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet, which in many cases has proven effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. However, data on its long-term effects remain limited, and several issues remain open regarding the sustainability of the diet, its social acceptability, possible nutritional imbalances, and its potential impact on the gut microbiota.
For this reason, interest has grown in recent years in complementary and integrated strategies, including functional foods and nutraceuticals. These may offer benefits that go beyond basic nutrition, for example by promoting microbial diversity, supporting the production of short-chain fatty acids, and contributing to intestinal barrier function7.
Focus on IBS-C
Among the different IBS subtypes, IBS-C is the form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in which constipation is the predominant symptom, typically involving both infrequent bowel movements and altered stool consistency.
In these cases,the chronic use of laxatives, whether natural or synthetic, does not always represent the ideal solution. In addition to possible side effects, the continued use of some substances is not recommended. For this reason as well, the most appropriate approach remains nutritional and lifestyle management, embedded within a broader and multifactorial view of the syndrome8.
As regards certain botanical species traditionally used in food supplements to promote intestinal transit, such as Aloe vera, Senna alexandrina, and Frangula purshiana, significant safety concerns have emerged in Europe. Attention is focused in particular on hydroxyanthracene derivatives, which are currently under evaluation for the possible risks associated with their use9.
In this context, Adamas Biotech has been working for years on a different, science-backed approach to support people living with IBS-C. This commitment has led to the development of Theakine® IBS-C, created to respond to the specific needs of people living with this condition. You can read more here.
1,3,4 The Rome Foundation – Comprehensive diagnostic standards for functional gastrointestinal disorders.
2 Abdul Rani R, Raja Ali RA, Lee YY. Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease overlap syndrome: pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Intest Res. 2016;14(4):297-304. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297. doi:10.5217/ir.2016.14.4.297.
5,8 Colecchia L, Marasco G, Meacci D, Cremon C, Pivetti A, Manni G, Gobbato A, Xhuveli M, Di Biase AR, Colecchia A, et al. Nutritional Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Nutrients. 2026; 18(4):699. doi:10.3390/nu18040699.
6 Bosman MHMA, Weerts ZZRM, Snijkers JTW, Vork L, Mujagic Z, Masclee AAM, Jonkers DMAE, Keszthelyi D. The socioeconomic impact of irritable bowel syndrome: an analysis of direct and indirect health care costs. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;21(10):2660-2669. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2023.01.017.
7 Marasco G, Cremon C, Salvi D, et al. Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. J Clin Med. 2025;14(6):1830. Published 2025 Mar 8. doi:10.3390/jcm14061830.
9 EFSA – Integratori Alimentari.
