Microbiota in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Endometriosis: Birds of a Feather Flock Together—A Review

Noemi Salmeri, Emanuele Sinagra, Carolina Dolci, Giovanni Buzzaccarini, Giulio Sozzi, Miriam Sutera, Massimo Candiani, Federica Ungaro, Luca Massimino, Silvio Danese, Francesco Vito Mandarino
Microorganisms · 2023 · vol. 11(8) , pp. 2089 · doi:10.3390/microorganisms11082089 · PMID:37630649 · W4385840373
review OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 18 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This review explores the evidence for gut dysbiosis in irritable bowel syndrome and endometriosis, highlighting their shared microbiota-driven mechanisms impacting intestinal permeability, inflammation, and the gut-brain axis.

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Abstract

Endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are chronic conditions affecting up to 10% of the global population, imposing significant burdens on healthcare systems and patient quality of life. Interestingly, around 20% of endometriosis patients also present with symptoms indicative of IBS. The pathogenesis of both these multifactorial conditions remains to be fully elucidated, but connections to gut microbiota are becoming more apparent. Emerging research underscores significant differences in the gut microbiota composition between healthy individuals and those suffering from either endometriosis or IBS. Intestinal dysbiosis appears pivotal in both conditions, exerting an influence via similar mechanisms. It impacts intestinal permeability, triggers inflammatory reactions, and initiates immune responses. Furthermore, it is entwined in a bidirectional relationship with the brain, as part of the gut-brain axis, whereby dysbiosis influences and is influenced by mental health and pain perception. Recent years have witnessed the development of microbiota-focused therapies, such as low FODMAP diets, prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, designed to tackle dysbiosis and relieve symptoms. While promising, these treatments present inconsistent data, highlighting the need for further research. This review explores the evidence of gut dysbiosis in IBS and endometriosis, underscoring the similar role of microbiota in both conditions. A deeper understanding of this common mechanism may enable enhanced diagnostics and therapeutic advancements.

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Condition tags

endometriosisirritable_bowel_syndrome

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Cited by (18)

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