Are you tired of feeling bloated, experiencing stomach pain, and having diarrhea? Well, it turns out that the bugs in your gut may be to blame! A new study has found that people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) have less diverse gut bacteria than healthy folks. The research combined data from 10 separate studies to look at the gut bacteria of IBS patients and healthy people. They found that IBS patients had lower gut bacteria diversity and 21 different types of bacteria were present at different levels in IBS patients compared to healthy people. This means that the gut bacteria of IBS patients are not as diverse and balanced as they should be. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a life of stomach troubles. The study suggests that low gut microbial diversity may be a cause of IBS, but more research is needed to confirm this. In the meantime, it may be worth talking to your doctor about ways to improve the diversity of your gut bacteria, such as through diet or probiotics. So, the next time you’re feeling a little off, remember that it could be your gut talking to you. Listen to it, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!

https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02125-22