An Intervention Study Using HMOs to Improve IBS Symptoms

There is now strong evidence implicating the human gut microbiota in many gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Importantly, this enteric population is susceptible to dietary intervention and represents an exciting target for the prevention and treatment of gut mediated disorders. This study will investigate microbial components and activities associated with the gut microbiome, using a global systems biology approach to explore the capacity of a human milk carbohydrate intervention in modulating this microbial community to target IBS, with the primary objective of improving IBS symptoms. IBS is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with significant negative impact on quality of life of patients and high healthcare costs. Although prognosis of IBS is benign, it is a disorder that poses a considerable burden on the individual sufferer and society. Patients typically present with chronic abdominal pain and an altered bowel habit, frequently accompanied by bloating and distension. Often, IBS will afflict sufferers for life, with flares of activity followed by periods of remission. Incidence commonly peaks in the third and fourth decades of life. IBS is suggested to be a disorder of gut-brain interaction, and alterations of the microbiota-host interactions at the mucosal border may cause symptoms such as those previously mentioned. Therefore, microbiota-targeted interventions may benefit some people with IBS by beneficially modulating the gut microbiome. Several studies have confirmed that prebiotics, such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS), are able to successfully stimulate gut bifidobacteria and alleviate symptoms in IBS. Prebiotics are defined as "a substrate that is selectively utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit" \[8\]. These studies suggest that prebiotics may have potential as therapeutic agents in IBS. Breastmilk is known to play a crucial role in the development of infants, providing key nutri