Abstract

VERGARA-ALVIRA, Mayra Sofía; AHUMADA-OSSA, Laura Marcela  and  POVEDA-ESPINOSA, Elpidia. Stress, depression, anxiety, and eating habits in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Rev. colomb. Gastroenterol. [online]. 2022, vol.37, n.4, pp.369-381.  Epub July 06, 2023. ISSN 0120-9957.  https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.899.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized by changes in bowel habits and affects 30% of the world’s population. Although a connection has been found between the brain-gut microbiota axis, the development of IBS, and its association with the prevalence of mental disorders, the possible implications for people’s eating habits are unclear. This article aimed to explore the relationship between stress, depression, anxiety, mental disorders, and eating habits in patients with IBS. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and VHL search engines. We found that people with IBS may have abnormalities in the brain microstructure and alterations in the brain-gut network associated with a longer duration of gastrointestinal symptoms and increased affective comorbidity. A relationship between stress, depression and anxiety, IBS symptoms, and changes in eating habits in different pathways is also suggested. All these may lead to restrictive eating practices, changes in appetite, nutrient inadequacy, even due to the same nutritional management in some cases, and, generally, deterioration in the quality of life of people with IBS. We recommend comprehensive management that involves not only pharmacological treatment for IBS symptoms and states of anxiety and depression but also psychological therapy, personalized nutrition, and improving lifestyles, such as physical activity and stress management.

Keywords : Irritable bowel syndrome; brain-gut axis; microbiota; stress; depression; anxiety; eating habits.

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