FRIDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Variable evidence exists on the effectiveness of treatments for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the disease should be diagnosed as a symptom complex, according to updated guidelines published online Dec. 18 and as a supplement to the January issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Lawrence J. Brandt, M.D., from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., and colleagues with the Task Force on IBS performed a comprehensive meta-analysis on the diagnosis and treatment of IBS to update the previous guidelines published in 2002.

The investigators found that although patients often believe that certain foods exacerbate their symptoms, there is little evidence that food allergy testing or dietary restrictions are effective. Although most physicians recommend the use of dietary fiber or debulking agents, the quality of the evidence is also poor. The effectiveness of treatments such as anti-spasmodic agents (including peppermint oil), anti-diarrheals, antibiotics, probiotics, serotonin receptor antagonists (5-HT3 and 5-HT4), selective C-2 chloride channel activators, antidepressants, psychological therapies, acupuncture and herbal therapies are also discussed.

"IBS is defined by abdominal pain or discomfort that occurs in association with altered bowel habits over a period of at least three months. Individual symptoms have limited accuracy for diagnosing IBS and, therefore, the disorder should be considered as a symptom complex," the authors write.

The study was funded by unrestricted grants from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. and Salix Pharmaceuticals.

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