Reduction of butyrate- and methane- producing microorganisms in patients with IBS. human gut metagenome

Gut microbiome characterization shows that IBS patients are characterized by a reduction of butyrate producing bacteria, known to improve intestinal barrier function. Also there is a reduction of methane producing bacteria without a compensating increase of sulfate-reducing bacteria -two major mechanisms of hydrogen disposal in the human colon- this could explain excess of abdominal gas and bloating in IBS.