The cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is still unknown. Some experts think IBS is a Motility Disorder.  An oversensitive or hyperactive gut is another possible cause of IBS. and the gut will react to changes influenced by stress, food and hormones.

Typically the bowel habit in IBS becomes chaotic. There is no surprised, therefore that it is considered a motility disorder. The transit time from ingestion of food to excretion is abnormal.

In diarrhoea the transit time is faster and in constipation it is slower. There are two types of IBS, diarrhoea predominant and constipation predominant. In some cases constipation and diarrhoea alternate. In IBS stools can vary from watery and unformed to hard pellets.

Some say there is a link between diet and IBS.
Certain foods will trigger IBS symptoms. Intestinal gut activity is stimulated by ingesting food. This is a normal action and the most common is the Gastro colic reflex. This reflex is strongest after breakfast. In IBS, large meals, fatty meals or just the wrong meal can trigger a very strong gastro colic reflex. This strong gut contraction can cause abdominal pains and or diarrhoea.

There is no evidence that food causes IBS but certain foods and the volume consumed at one time can trigger symptoms.

One suggestion is that the fault that results in IBS resides in the Nervous System. The gut has a complex network of brain cells called the Enteric Nervous System. This "Brain of the Gut" is connected to the Brain. To understand IBS, experts think you need to understand how the Enteric Nervous System works.

The highest level of serotonin, a neuro-chemical is found in the gut. At present a lot of research is focused on gut serotonin receptors.

Serotonin affects the nerves in the intestine and controls contractions of the smooth muscles of the gut. Low levels of serotonin lead to constipation and higher than normal levels cause diarrhoea.

Psychological factors such as anxiety, stress and depression can affect the gut. Trauma suc h as physical, sexual and emotional abuse can affect the gut. In IBS, records show a higher incidence of such trauma. Addressing these issues may produce better long term results.

Gastroenteritis as a cause of IBS: IBS can develop is 20-30% of cases of severe gastro-enteritis. Escherichia coli, Salmonella shigella and Camplobacter jejuni are the most common organisms involved. Gastroenteritis results in inflammation of the gut lining resulting in an overproduction of serotonin. In the thirty percent that develops IBS, the serotonin imbalance continues.

In women with IBS, the hormones progesterone and estrogen vary during the menstrual cycle and the symptoms may fluctuate. The passage of food residue along the large gut is affected by the female hormones.

Yeast according to Prof. Jonathan Bostoff of The Meddlesex Hospital could be a possible cause of IBS. An overgrowth of Candida occurs when there is reduced levels of good bacteria, Lactobacilli and Bifidobactreia.

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