Abstract
Background
Epidemiological studies of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among young adults are few, especially in Asian countries. Our aim was to examine the prevalence of IBS, whether there was a sex difference, and whether allergic diseases were important risk factors for IBS in young adults.
Methods
Newly enrolled university students completed health survey questionnaires regarding general health. Those with gastrointestinal symptoms completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and an additional questionnaire covering the presence of allergic manifestations. IBS was diagnosed based on the Rome II criteria.
Results
IBS was diagnosed in 268 of 2495 students [10.7%; constipation-predominant type (IBS-C), 128; diarrhea-predominant type (IBS-D), 117; unclassified, 23]. IBS-C was associated with female sex (odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 4.1–9.7; P < 0.001), whereas there was no sex difference in IBS-D. The proportions of subjects with food sensitivity were significantly different among the three groups (4.0%, subjects without IBS; 8.6%, IBS-C group; and 15.4%, IBS-D group) (P < 0.001). The median GSRS scores for pain (1.67 vs 1, P = 0.001), indigestion (1.75 vs 1.5, P < 0.001), and constipation (2.0 vs 1.33, P < 0.001) were higher, and the median diarrhea score was lower (1.33 vs 1.67) (P < 0.001), in women than in men. The median score for diarrhea (2.33 vs 1.67, P = 0.001) was significantly higher in subjects with food sensitivity than in those without.
Conclusions
There was a strong relationship between IBS-C and female sex, and food sensitivity seemed to be an exacerbating factor for IBS-D.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
GR Locke Suffix3rd (1996) ArticleTitleThe epidemiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders in North America Gastroenterol Clin North Am 25 1–19 Occurrence Handle8682567 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0889-8553(05)70362-9
NJ Talley AR Zinsmeister C Van Dyke LJ Melton Suffix3rd (1991) ArticleTitleEpidemiology of colonic symptoms and the irritable bowel syndrome Gastroenterology 101 927–34 Occurrence Handle1889716 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3MzmsFWqug%3D%3D
DA Drossman Z Li E Andruzzi RD Temple NJ Talley WG Thompson et al. (1993) ArticleTitleU.S. householder survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Prevalence, sociodemography, and health impact Dig Dis Sci 38 1569–80 Occurrence Handle8359066 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3szmsFegsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01303162
L Chang MM Heitkemper (2002) ArticleTitleGender differences in irritable bowel syndrome Gastroenterology 123 1686–701 Occurrence Handle12404243 Occurrence Handle10.1053/gast.2002.36603
DA Drossman WE Whitehead M Camilleri (1997) ArticleTitleIrritable bowel syndrome: a technical review for practice guideline development Gastroenterology 112 2120–37 Occurrence Handle9178709 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2szit1Smtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1053/gast.1997.v112.agast972120
YA Saito P Schoenfeld GR Locke Suffix3rd (2002) ArticleTitleThe epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome in North America: a systematic review Am J Gastroenterol 97 1910–5 Occurrence Handle12190153
DA Drossman M Camilleri EA Mayer WE Whitehead (2002) ArticleTitleAGA technical review on irritable bowel syndrome Gastroenterology 123 2108–31 Occurrence Handle12454866 Occurrence Handle10.1053/gast.2002.37095
GR Locke Suffix3rd AR Zinsmeister NJ Talley SL Fett LJ Melton (2000) ArticleTitleRisk factors for irritable bowel syndrome: role of analgesics and food sensitivities Am J Gastroenterol 95 157–65 Occurrence Handle10638576 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.01678.x
NJ Talley AR Zinsmeister LJ Melton Suffix3rd (1995) ArticleTitleIrritable bowel syndrome in a community: symptom subgroups, risk factors, and health care utilization Am J Epidemiol 142 76–83 Occurrence Handle7785677 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2MzgsFaisg%3D%3D
E Taub JL Cuevas EW Cook Suffix3rd M Crowell WE Whitehead (1995) ArticleTitleIrritable bowel syndrome defined by factor analysis. Gender and race comparisons Dig Dis Sci 40 2647–55 Occurrence Handle8536526 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK287jtlChsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02220455
KE McColl (2001) ArticleTitleReview article: tackling the “dyspeptic problem.” Aliment Pharmacol Ther 15 Suppl 2 10–3 Occurrence Handle11556875 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrgvFCruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.00116.x
L Agreus L Engstrand K Svardsudd O Nyren G Tibblin (1995) ArticleTitleHelicobacter pylori seropositivity among Swedish adults with and without abdominal symptoms. A population-based epidemiologic study Scand J Gastroenterol 30 752–7 Occurrence Handle7481542 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK28%2FisFGhtg%3D%3D
AE Varner (2002) ArticleTitleThe increase in allergic respiratory diseases: survival of the fittest? Chest 121 1308–16 Occurrence Handle11948067 Occurrence Handle10.1378/chest.121.4.1308
T Schafer J Ring (1997) ArticleTitleEpidemiology of allergic diseases Allergy 52 14–22 Occurrence Handle9208054 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2szltFOksA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb04864.x
A Roussos P Koursarakos D Patsopoulos I Gerogianni N Philippou (2003) ArticleTitleIncreased prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in patients with bronchial asthma Respir Med 97 75–9 Occurrence Handle12556015 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2Fks1arug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1053/rmed.2001.1409
A Yazar S Atis K Konca C Pata E Akbay M Calikoglu et al. (2001) ArticleTitleRespiratory symptoms and pulmonary functional changes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome Am J Gastroenterol 96 1511–6 Occurrence Handle11374691 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ptFyqtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03748.x
AM Niec B Frankum NJ Talley (1998) ArticleTitleAre adverse food reactions linked to irritable bowel syndrome? Am J Gastroenterol 93 2184–90 Occurrence Handle9820394 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2Fjs1arsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.00531.x
R Dainese EA Galliani F De Lazzari V Di Leo R Naccarato (1999) ArticleTitleDiscrepancies between reported food intolerance and sensitization test findings in irritable bowel syndrome patients Am J Gastroenterol 94 1892–7 Occurrence Handle10406255 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1Mzjt1yrug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.01226.x
E Dimenas H Glise B Hallerback H Hernqvist J Svedlund I Wiklund (1995) ArticleTitleWell-being and gastrointestinal symptoms among patients referred to endoscopy owing to suspected duodenal ulcer Scand J Gastroenterol 30 1046–52 Occurrence Handle8578162 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK287lvVemsw%3D%3D
E Dimenas H Glise B Hallerback H Hernqvist J Svedlund I Wiklund (1993) ArticleTitleQuality of life in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. An improved evaluation of treatment regimens? Scand J Gastroenterol 28 681–7 Occurrence Handle8210982 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2c%2FitlOrtA%3D%3D
H Suzuki T Masaoka G Sakai H Ishii T Hibi (2005) ArticleTitleImprovement of gastrointestinal quality of life scores in cases of Helicobacter pylori-positive functional dyspepsia after successful eradication therapy J Gastroenterol Hepatol 20 1652–60 Occurrence Handle16246181 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.04039.x
WD Chey K Olden E Carter J Boyle D Drossman L Chang (2002) ArticleTitleUtility of the Rome I and Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome in U.S. women Am J Gastroenterol 97 2803–11 Occurrence Handle12425552 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.07026.x
F Mearin M Roset X Badia A Balboa E Baro J Ponce et al. (2004) ArticleTitleSplitting irritable bowel syndrome: from original Rome to Rome II criteria Am J Gastroenterol 99 122–30 Occurrence Handle14687153 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1572-0241.2003.04024.x
PM Boyce NA Koloski NJ Talley (2000) ArticleTitleIrritable bowel syndrome according to varying diagnostic criteria: are the new Rome II criteria unnecessarily restrictive for research and practice? Am J Gastroenterol 95 3176–83 Occurrence Handle11095338 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FnsFKisA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.03197.x
KA Gwee S Wee ML Wong DJ Png (2004) ArticleTitleThe prevalence, symptom characteristics, and impact of irritable bowel syndrome in an Asian urban community Am J Gastroenterol 99 924–31 Occurrence Handle15128362 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.04161.x
CL Lu CY Chen HC Lang JC Luo SS Wang FY Chang et al. (2003) ArticleTitleCurrent patterns of irritable bowel syndrome in Taiwan: the Rome II questionnaire on a Chinese population Aliment Pharmacol Ther 18 1159–69 Occurrence Handle14653836 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01711.x
DA Drossman CB Morris Y Hu BB Toner N Diamant J Leserman et al. (2005) ArticleTitleA prospective assessment of bowel habit in irritable bowel syndrome in women: defining an alternator Gastroenterology 128 580–9 Occurrence Handle15765393 Occurrence Handle10.1053/j.gastro.2004.12.006
OY Lee EA Mayer M Schmulson L Chang B Naliboff (2001) ArticleTitleGender-related differences in IBS symptoms Am J Gastroenterol 96 2184–93 Occurrence Handle11467651 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvhvFejsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03961.x
RH Corney R Stanton (1990) ArticleTitlePhysical symptom severity, psychological and social dysfunction in a series of outpatients with irritable bowel syndrome J Psychosom Res 34 483–91 Occurrence Handle2231481 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK3M%2FjvV2rsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-3999(90)90022-V
NJ Talley P Boyce M Jones (1998) ArticleTitleIdentification of distinct upper and lower gastrointestinal symptom groupings in an urban population Gut 42 690–5 Occurrence Handle9659166 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czitlejsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1136/gut.42.5.690
EE Soffer K Kongara JP Achkar J Gannon (2000) ArticleTitleColonic motor function in humans is not affected by gender Dig Dis Sci 45 1281–4 Occurrence Handle10961704 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvislahtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005535432163
R Meier C Beglinger JP Dederding B Meyer-Wyss M Fumagalli A Rowedder et al. (1995) ArticleTitleInfluence of age, gender, hormonal status and smoking habits on colonic transit time Neurogastroenterol Motil 7 235–8 Occurrence Handle8574912 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK287jtFeksg%3D%3D
AM Metcalf SF Phillips AR Zinsmeister RL MacCarty RW Beart BG Wolff (1987) ArticleTitleSimplified assessment of segmental colonic transit Gastroenterology 92 40–7 Occurrence Handle3023168 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL2s%2FlsFWhtg%3D%3D
JP Hinds B Stoney A Wald (1989) ArticleTitleDoes gender or the menstrual cycle affect colonic transit? Am J Gastroenterol 84 123–6 Occurrence Handle2916519 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaL1M7jt1CqsA%3D%3D
M Schmulson OY Lee L Chang B Naliboff EA Mayer (1999) ArticleTitleSymptom differences in moderate to severe IBS patients based on predominant bowel habit Am J Gastroenterol 94 2929–35 Occurrence Handle10520847 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MvkvFWmtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.01440.x
EA Mayer (2000) ArticleTitleThe neurobiology of stress and gastrointestinal disease Gut 47 861–9 Occurrence Handle11076888 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M%2FmsVGjug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1136/gut.47.6.861
SE Taylor LC Klein BP Lewis TL Gruenewald RA Gurung JA Updegraff (2000) ArticleTitleBiobehavioral responses to stress in females: tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight Psychol Rev 107 411–29 Occurrence Handle10941275 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvjtFaruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1037/0033-295X.107.3.411
LA Houghton R Lea N Jackson PJ Whorwell (2002) ArticleTitleThe menstrual cycle affects rectal sensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome but not healthy volunteers Gut 50 471–4 Occurrence Handle11889064 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD387lslentA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1136/gut.50.4.471
M Heitkemper M Jarrett K Cain J Shaver E Bond NF Woods et al. (1996) ArticleTitleIncreased urine catecholamines and cortisol in women with irritable bowel syndrome Am J Gastroenterol 91 906–13 Occurrence Handle8633579 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XjsFWjsb8%3D
S Elsenbruch WC Orr (2001) ArticleTitleDiarrhea- and constipation-predominant IBS patients differ in postprandial autonomic and cortisol responses Am J Gastroenterol 96 460–6 Occurrence Handle11232691 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXisVGhtLs%3D Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03526.x
TM Kennedy RH Jones AP Hungin H O'Flanagan P Kelly (1998) ArticleTitleIrritable bowel syndrome, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness in the general population Gut 43 770–4 Occurrence Handle9824603 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FntFaktQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1136/gut.43.6.770
E Young MD Stoneham A Petruckevitch J Barton R Rona (1994) ArticleTitleA population study of food intolerance Lancet 343 1127–30 Occurrence Handle7910231 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK2c3jvFShug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0140-6736(94)90234-8
M Dapoigny RW Stockbrugger F Azpiroz S Collins G Coremans S Muller-Lissner et al. (2003) ArticleTitleRole of alimentation in irritable bowel syndrome Digestion 67 225–33 Occurrence Handle12966230 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3svisVyrsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1159/000072061
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
There is no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shiotani, A., Miyanishi, T. & Takahashi, T. Sex differences in irritable bowel syndrome in Japanese university students. J Gastroenterol 41, 562–568 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-006-1805-2
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-006-1805-2