New research from Cedars-Sinai found that women and men may have important differences in the microbiome of their small bowel.
That is a key finding, because the small bowel helps regulate digestion, immunity, metabolism, and hormones.
One really striking discover: researchers found a bacterial community containing Granulicatella only in women. This same community appeared at higher levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
They also found sex-based differences in how small bowel microbes may handle fructans. Those are a type of FODMAP, a fermentable carbohydrate that can trigger gas, bloating, pain, and diarrhea in some people with IBS.
The takeaway? IBS in women may have different physical underpinnings than IBS in men. Those differences may shape the gut microbiome, hormone interactions, food reactions, and digestive symptoms.
And more about IBS in women…
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