Gastrointestinal problems affect a growing number of people. The most frequently observed disorders include: abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, intestinal colic, gases, nausea. These ailments may have an organic aetiology (inflammatory bowel disease) or be of functional type (irritable bowel syndrome, visceral hypersensitivity).
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with an autoimmune component in the pathophysiology. On the other hand, functional bowel disorders result from abnormal digestive tract functioning (e.g. excessive muscular contractions). In patients with digestive tract complaints, dysbiosis is frequently observed. As a result of multiple external factors, the number of beneficial microbes is reduced. Intestinal dysbiosis may result from the use of antibiotics, inadequate diet, drug abuse, stress, stimulants and a number of others. As a consequence, pathogenic microorganisms (proteolytic bacteria and yeast-like fungi) multiply excessively. Potentially pathogenic bacteria carry out putrefaction processes, produce a number of toxins and compounds harmful to human health. Consequently, patient develops abdominal pain and discomfort. An effective way to restore intestinal microflora include appropriately selected probiotics (live strains of probiotic bacteria) and prebiotics (nutrients for beneficial microorganisms). Evaluation of intestinal microflora composition and appropriately selected probiotic strains encompass a safe and effective solution to digestive problems, significantly improving the patient’s quality of life.
The second common cause of digestive problems has been linked to certain food intake. The diet of a modern man is mostly composed of highly processed food, enriched in preservatives and flavour enhancers. Together with other unfavourable external factors to which the body is exposed, intestinal barrier damage occurs resulting in the development of latent food allergies – of IgA and IgG dependent type – also called food intolerances. After eating intolerable foods, chronic inflammation develops in the body, which generates a number of health problems. Latent food allergies often cause gastrointestinal complaints. Because the described reactions occur after a long time after a certain food was eaten (24 – 96 hours), it is impossible to identify sensitizing foods. The solution is to perform a specialized IgA and IgG – dependent allergy tests. This will make the implementation of targeted-elimination diet successfull. Studies have shown that this type of treatment effectively reduces or eliminates the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improves the health of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
In case of gastrointestinal complaints, the following tests are recommended:
– MikroFloraScan Plus
– FoodScreen IgG/IgA USBiotek (112 nutrients)
