Algae might help reduce IBS symptoms
- Agnes Ogugua
- Feb 5, 2020
- 2 min read
We all know the routine when it comes to an upset stomach, constipation, and other bowel issues: “Drink more water, eat more fiber.” For those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, also known as IBS, treating the condition is not always so easy. IBS is a common disorder that affects the large intestine in a number of ways. Strong and weak muscle contractions in the intestines can cause gas, bloating, and constipation. Poorly coordinated signals from the intestines to the brain could cause the body to overreact to changes in the digestive system, resulting in pain and diarrhea.
Symptoms of IBS can also be triggered by certain foods (particularly dairy products, beans, citrus fruits, and carbonated drinks, for example), stress, and hormones. A recent study conducted by the University of California San Diego explored Irritable Bowel Syndrome and may have discovered an odd new treatment for the condition: with algae.
Algae have always been known to provide a number of nutritional benefits: protein, carbohydrates, healthy oils, vitamins, and antioxidants. Scientists believe that one type of algae in particular, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, may be the answer to all our gastrointestinal problems. C. reinhardtii is a single-celled green alga that grows in wet soil. It is most famous for being the most researched type of algae. It is often used as a model organism for many biological processes like photosynthesis and flagellar movement. C. reinhardtii has been used to produce proteins needed to fight against injury, infection, and viruses, to promote the growth of new blood cells, and even to produce potential HPV and malaria vaccines.
Considering all these properties, scientists were intrigued to explore how C. reinhardtii may positively affect the GI tract and how it can be used to fight IBS. The following is a study done using mice and human volunteers as participants, which demonstrated that C. reinhardtii can alleviate gastrointestinal problems like the symptoms of IBS.
First, a preliminary set of data was collected on mice with colon inflammation, and scientists found that after feeding the mice C. reinhardtii daily, they experienced a lower rate of weight loss. Unexplained weight loss is a major symptom of colon inflammation. Since the experiment with mice was a success, researchers began to study the effect of the algae on humans with IBS. Hundreds of participants had to consume a teaspoon of C. reinhardtii daily for 28 days and report the results. Most participants reported a significantly reduced level of bowel discomfort, less occurrence of diarrhea, less gas and bloating, and more frequent bowel movements!
But the results of this preliminary study are not yet the end-all-be-all of solving Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. There are still areas for future research before this treatment becomes available commercially, with many questions to be answered – perhaps with a more diverse and large sample of participants. Also, researchers still don’t know how the algae interact with the digestive system to produce such results.
Interested in reading more about this topic? Where’s here:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360016
