Bentyl

While the pathophysiology of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is complex and heterogeneous, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is frequently observed, suggesting that a substantial subset of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have symptoms that are initiated and/or perpetuated by a microbiome dysfunction. Successful randomized controlled trials (RCT) for IBS-D (Ford 2018; Black 2022) leveraging microbiome-targeted therapies (antibiotics or low microbiome fermentation diets) suggest the gut microbiome is at least partially involved in IBS symptoms. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for patients with IBS-D has demonstrated promising results (El-Salhy 2020), supporting the possibility that altering the microbiome composition could ameliorate IBS-D symptoms. MITI-001 is a transplantable gut bacterial community composed of 157 live bacterial strains, encompassing 79 genera of commensal bacteria, that have been isolated from healthy donor stool, purified, and banked. The hypothesis of the proposed research is that MITI-001 can target the pathophysiologic lesion in a subset of IBS-D patients, restore the altered microbial metabolic process, and thus alleviate IBS-D symptoms.

The purpose of this research is to study the added benefit of treating IBS symptoms with a medication called mirtazapine in treating IBS symptoms when paired with a low-FODMAP diet compared to a low-FODMAP diet alone. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates that can cause digestive distress in some people. You have been asked to take part in this research because you have symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome that may respond to treatment with a combination of a medication called mirtazapine and a low-FODMAP diet.

This clinical study aims to evaluate the use of i3.1 probiotic in participants who meet the Institute of Medicine (Canadian Consensus Criteria) case definition for ME/CFS and who may or may not be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The main questions it aims to answer are: * how effective is the usage of the i3.1 probiotic to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation and normalize the GI and systemic/brain interface? * how well is it working on IBS severity? The study sample is 100 male and female participants aged 45 to 70 years with ME/CFS (per the Canadian Consensus Criteria); one-half of the participants will have co-morbid IBS (per Rome IV criteria). Participants will receive an i3.1 or a placebo and be assessed at baseline, at eight weeks, and at 12 weeks (four weeks post-treatment completion).

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disorder that affects many Canadians. The syndrome involves abdominal pain and change in frequency or form of bowel movements, and these symptoms can lead to a decreased quality of life for patients. Primary care physicians are dissatisfied with current referral processes, and patients may wait a long time to receive the correct diagnosis. Diet is known to exacerbate symptoms of IBS. In Canada, accessing dietary treatment for IBS is a challenge due to lack of resources. Some patients lack access to dietary interventions, and others are given advice that is not evidenced based. Use of eHealth technology, such as virtual education delivered by a dietician, may allow for more widespread access to dietary interventions for IBS. Virtual education can include one on one dietary education, online group-based education, and the use of apps. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge whether dietary intervention for IBS, delivered virtually by a dietician, is effective in treating IBS.