IBS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE BODY’S INABILITY TO COPE WITH GRAVITY
The constant downward pull could lead to the gut pain and cramping experienced by sufferers
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has remained a mystery ever since it was first described more than a century ago. Now, Prof Brennan Spiegel at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has published a theory in the American Journal Of Gastroenterology that suggests it could be caused by the body’s inability to cope with gravity.
IBS affects around 10 per cent of the population. Sufferers experience painful cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, which can last for weeks or months at a time. There is currently no cure, but certain medications or dietary changes can help ease the symptoms.
There are several more traditional theories for the cause of the disorder, including abnormalities in the gut microbiome, miscommunication between the gut and the brain, or issues with the movement of muscles within the gastrointestinal tract. But Spiegel’s gravity hypothesis adds another idea to the mix.
“As long as there’s been life on Earth, from the earliest organisms to Homo sapiens, gravity has relentlessly shaped everything on the planet,” said Spiegel. “Our body systems are constantly pulled downward. If these systems cannot manage the drag of gravity, then it can cause issues like pain, cramping, light-headedness, sweating, rapid heartbeat and back issues – all symptoms seen with IBS. It can even contribute to bacterial overgrowth in the gut, a problem also linked to IBS.”
“This hypothesis is very provocative, but the best thing about it is that it is testable”
According to Spiegel, gravity can cause our internal organs to shift downward from their proper position. Some people are less able to cope with its pull than others, due to conditions such as spinal problems that cause the diaphragm to sag down or the belly to bulge.
Issues such as these could potentially trigger complications with the movement of muscles in the gastrointestinal tract, or even bacterial growth within the gut. This could also explain why physical therapy and exercise can often help ease the symptoms of IBS by strengthening the body’s support structures.
“The body evolved to hoist this load with a set of support structures. If these systems fail, then IBS symptoms can occur along with musculoskeletal problems,” said Spiegel.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai now plan to investigate the theory further so they can look into the development of potential treatments.
“This hypothesis is very provocative, but the best thing about it is that it is testable,” said Prof Shelly Lu, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai. “If proved correct, it is a major paradigm shift in the way we think about IBS and possibly [its] treatment as well.”