University of São Paulo: Volunteers Sought for Clinical Study on Gastrointestinal Disorders Research

The Faculty of Medicine (FM) of the University of São Paulo is producing a clinical study that will evaluate the use of probiotics in women with constipation, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, disorders of the gut-brain axis, with a bidirectional connection of the intestine with the brain. According to Ilana Marques, researcher at the Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Surgery of the Digestive System at FMUSP, these disorders are associated with factors related to lifestyle and stress, which explains an increase in cases in the Brazilian population after the pandemic.

The researcher explains that, in addition to factors associated with quality of life, irritable bowel syndrome, considered one of the most common functional diseases among chronic intestinal disorders, also has a strong hormonal relationship, which mainly affects the female population. “So, the greater presence of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone can affect intestinal motility, in addition to affecting the sensitivity of the gastrointestinal tract; Factors such as stress, anxiety, depression also have a greater association with the female sex,” she adds.

“Normally this is neglected, or it is often normalized, so the patient thinks it is normal to have gastrointestinal symptoms for more than six months or to have a change in the evacuation pattern, so having constipation from only going to the bathroom once a week, and this does not it’s normal. This must be investigated and the patient must seek help,” she says.