Functional abdominal pain and discomfort (IBS) is not associated with faecal microbiota composition in the general population

We read with interest the study by Simrén et al1 addressing the correlation between GI symptoms and functional GI disorders (eg, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)) and the comment by Hadizadeh et al2 reporting abdominal pain sensation to be associated with an altered faecal microbiota composition. Hadizadeh et al2 propose from their study on 159 individuals that their results may allow to develop novel tools for diagnosis and management of IBS and dyspepsia. We tried to replicate their findings in the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-Trend)3 using stool samples from 906 volunteers to analyse faecal microbiota composition and diversity by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as previously described.4 Twenty participants were excluded for incomplete phenotypic data or antibiotic treatment at sample collection. Of the remaining 886 individuals (age: 51 years (40–61), median (first to third quartiles); female: 56.4%), 172 (19.4%) reported...

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