The Impact and Prevalence of Food Allergies among Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Abdominal pain that flares up again and irregular intestinal motility are the features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a complex bowel symptom with an incidence of 5.2-22% in people. IBS and allergy illnesses share many common causes, including food intolerance, post-infectious inflammation, and allergic reactions. This suggests that there may be an immune-mediated relationship between the two conditions. The Research Ethics Committee (REC) at the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, approved this research, aiming to evaluate the impact and incidence of food allergies among adults with IBS.Methods: Between January 2023 and June 2023, we conducted our prospective cohort study in the gastroenterology unit of Ain Shams University Hospital, using Rome IV criteria to diagnose IBS in 84 participants after exclusion of cases with immune deficiencies, significant previous abdominal surgery, and organic gastrointestinal disorders. Participants' dietary habits and demographic information were noted, and they also underwent a full medical history, physical examination, CBC, stool analyses, serum IgE tests, and a two-week food record to monitor their intake of allergenic foods and their impact on the IBS manifestations. Results: Among our subjects of the research, the prevalence of food allergies was in 50% of patients, with common sensitivities to cow's milk, egg white, and wheat. Significant associations existed between food allergies and IBS subtypes, particularly IBS-C.In Conclusion, food allergies are common in IBS cases, and there is a strong correlation between certain food allergies and IBS subtypes, especially in people who meet specific clinical and demographic criteria.