PATIENT PRESENTATION MARKER

IBS-M symptoms

What this marker measures

The degree to which Rome IV criteria are met/not met for the mixed subtype of irritable bowel syndrome. This does not constitute a diagnosis.

Health categories/Interpretations informed by this marker

Clinical features
‍● Lower GI symptoms: IBS-M symptoms are a commonly-reported lower GI symptom cluster that can affect quality of life.
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Interpreting the result

PRESENT

Questionnaire responses indicate abdominal pain on 1 or more days per week for 6 months or more, linked to bowel motions, with stools that change to either hard or lumpy, or loose or watery, during pain. This is consistent with the Rome IV criteria for IBS, with a mixed stool pattern.

NOT PRESENT

Questionnaire responses do not meet the criteria for Present.

Patient management insights

supplementation

Take oral sodium butyrate: oral sodium butyrate may help normalise stool form in IBS.^1,2
GRADE C

Tips for patients discussion

"Your questionnaire responses show a pattern of tummy pain alongside stools that swing between hard and loose. This is common and can affect how you feel day to day. One option we can try is a butyrate supplement, which may help settle stool form, and we'll look at your other results to see what else might help."

Source references for all clinical associations, interpretation definitions, and patient management insights on this card.

1. Banasiewicz, T. et al. Microencapsulated sodium butyrate reduces the frequency of abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Colorectal Dis 15, 204–209 (2013).
2. Scarpellini, E. et al. Efficacy of butyrate in the treatment of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Dig Liver Dis Suppl 1, 19–22 (2007).