A RECENT large-scale genetic study involving researchers from Monash University has uncovered a new link between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the cardiovascular system.
Led by Dr Leticia Camargo Tavares in Monash's School of Biological Sciences, the study sheds light on the genetic underpinnings of IBS, which is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in the world.
Characterised by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, the cause of IBS remains unclear, despite affecting up to 10% of the global population.
The new research, published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, was based on an analysis of data from UK Biobank and Lifelines of 24,735 people with IBS and 77,149 symptom-free individuals.
The analysis discovered four genomic regions, including two that were previously unidentified, associated with higher susceptibility to IBS.
These genetic "hotspots" involve pathways central to gastrointestinal motility, intestinal mucosal integrity, and circadian rhythm regulation.
The research also revealed a connection between IBS predisposition and various cardiovascular ailments, including hypertension, and ischemic heart disease.
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