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Rebecca Voelker

JAMA. 2001;285:401.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Excessive bacteria in the small intestine may be the culprit causing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes painful symptoms in millions of Americans.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles reported the link in a study of 202 patients with IBS who took a specialized breath test to detect the presence of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Excessive bacteria were detected in 78% of the patients, a finding that study author Mark Pimentel, MD, said demonstrated "a strong association between the two conditions."

The study, published in last month's American Journal of Gastroenterology, also showed that treatment with commonly used antibiotics can eliminate the bacteria and relieve symptoms of IBS. Among 47 patients who received a 10-day course of antibiotics, 25 had no signs of excessive bacteria in the small intestine. Of the 25, half had no symptoms of IBS, and symptoms were . . . [Full Text of this Article]