Original story from the University of California, San Francisco (CA, USA). Researchers discover that estrogen can turn on pain signals associated with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. Women are dramatically more likely than men to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic condition causing abdominal pain, bloating and digestive discomfort. Now, scientists at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF; CA, USA) have discovered why. Estrogen activates previously unknown pathways in the colon that can trigger pain and make the female gut more sensitive to certain foods and their breakdown products. When male mice were given estrogen to mimic the levels found in females, their gut pain sensitivity increased to match that of females. The findings not only explain the female predominance in gut pain disorders but also point to potential new ways to treat the conditions. “Instead of just saying young women suffer from IBS, we wanted rigorous science explaining why,” shared Holly Ingraham, PhD, the Herzstein Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at UCSF and co-senior author of the study. “We’ve answered that question, and in the process identified new potential drug targets.” The research also suggests why low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diets – which eliminate certain fermentable foods, such as onions, garlic, honey, wheat and beans – help some IBS patients, and why women’s gut symptoms often fluctuate with their menstrual cycles. “We knew the gut has a sophisticated pain-sensing system, but this study reveals how hormones can dial that sensitivity up by tapping into…
