Irritable Bowel Syndrome Statistics

• 20-30 Million Americans affected (1)
• $8 billion spent per year with IBS medical costs (2)
• $20 billion additional indirect cost (such as missed work time, etc) (2)
• Symptoms affect 12-15% of Americans(3), up to 20% of elderly (4)
• Comprise 30-50% of referrals to gastroenterology clinics (3)
• Not seen as "serious", but affects quality of life to a greater degree than asthma, diabetes, and migraines (5)
• Visit doctors 3x as much than non-IBS patients for non-IBS related problems (6)
• 25-30% estimated to begin following a GI infection (7)
• IgG/Elimination-based diets shown to benefit up to 26% decrease in IBS symptoms (8)
• IgE type allergies (immediate swelling, anaphylaxis, hives) only present in 2-4% (9)
• Many medical doctors focus solely on IgE allergies and consider IgG allergies as better classified as "intolerances"
• Most common food intolerance is to dairy (lactose), affecting 25% of adults. (10)
• Lactose-free diet shown to benefit 87% of those diagnosed with lactose intolerance, led to 75% reduction in doctor's visits (10)
• Fructose and sorbitol intolerances due to poor absorption, restriction led to improved absorption in 40% of subjects (11)

1. Locke Gr, Zinsmeister AR, Talley, NJ, et al: Risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome: Role of analgesics and food sensitivities. Am J Gastroenterol 95: 157-165, 2000.

2. Talley NJ, Gabriel SE, Harmsen WS, et al: Medical costs in community subjects with irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology 109:1736-1741, 1995.

3. Maxwell, PR, Mendall MA, Kumar D: Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Lancet 350:1691-1695, 1997.

4. Ehrenpreis ED: Irritable bowel syndrome: 10% to 20% of older adults have symptoms consistent with diagnosis. Geriatrics 60:25-28, 2005.

5. Frank L, Kleinman L, Rentz A, et al: Health-related quality of life associated with irritable bowel syndrome: Comparison with other chronic diseases. Clin Ther 24:675-689, 2002.

6. Whitehead WE, Palsson O, Jones KR: Systematic review of the comorbidity of irritable bowel syndrome with other disorders: What are the causes and implications? Gastroenterology 122: 1140-1156, 2002.

7. Neal R, Barker L, Spiller RC: Prognosis in post-infective irritable bowel syndrome: a six year follow-up study. Gut 51:410-413, 2002.

8. Atkinson W, Sheldon TA, Shaath N, et al: Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: A randomised controlled trial. Gut 53:1459-1464, 2004.]

9. Niec AM, Franku B, Talley NJ: are adverse food reactions linked to irritable bowel syndrome? Am J Gastroenterol 94:2184-2190, 1998.

10. Gremuse DA, Nguyenduc GH, Sacks AI, et al: Irritable bowel syndrome and lactose malgdigestion in recurrent abdominal pain in childhood. South Med J 92:778-781, 1999.

11. Fernandez-Banares, F, Esteve-Pardo M, deLeon R, et al: sugar malabsorption in functional bowel disease: clincal implication Am J Gastroenterol 88: 2044-2050, 1993

*as quoted in Rakel, D. (2007). Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.