Probiotics May Help People With IBS Get Through Stressful Events Without Tummy Upsets

For those who have the sensitive gut issue known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), it's a given that stress makes it worse, but until now scientists have not understood why this is true. Now a University of Michigan Health System study has found the missing link that explains why a stressful event like a job interview can send IBS sufferers running to the bathroom at an inopportune moment. Even better, the researchers were able to halt the tummy trouble with probiotics, the live bacteria found in yogurt that help grow the gut-dwelling good bacteria.Probiotics, like Align, may help prevent stress from upsetting the gut.

During stress, the body produces a hormone (corticotropin-releasing hormone) that prevents immune system molecules from policing the microbiome in the gut. This group of immune system molecules known as inflammasomes maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria, but when stress hits--say, when you are about to give that big speech--the body releases a hormone that suppresses inflammasomes.

With repeated stressors, the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut can get out of whack, causing bloating, cramping and diarrhea.

The good news is researchers were able to prevent the destructive effects of stress with probiotics. In the study, pretreatment with probiotic therapy reduced inflammation in mice with stress-induced small bowel inflammation.

The take home, then, is to take preventive probiotics (such as Align, Culturelle or Ultraflora, especially in the weeks before stressful events.