Biomarkers for Intestinal Permeability in Patients With Constipation

Inclusion criteria

• 18 - 65 years old
• IBS-C by Rome III criteria (for IBS-C participants)
• No abdominal surgery (except appendectomy and cholecystectomy)

Exclusion criteria

• History of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) , microscopic colitis or celiac disease
• Use of tobacco products within the past 6 months
• Use of NSAIDs or aspirin within the past week
• Use of oral corticosteroids within the previous 6 weeks
• Ingestion of artificial sweeteners such as Splenda (sucralose), Nutrasweet (aspartame), lactulose or mannitol 2 days before the study begins, e.g., foods to be avoided are sugarless gums or mints and diet soda
• Ingestion of any prescription, over the counter, or herbal medications which can affect gastrointestinal transit 7 days before study begins
• Any treatment specifically taken for IBS, including loperamide, cholestyramine, alosetron
• Drugs with a known pharmacological activity at 5-HT4, 5-HT2b or 5-HT3 receptors (e.g, tegaserod, ondansetron, tropisetron, granisetron, dolasetron, mirtazapine);
• All narcotics (e.g, codeine, morphine, and propoxyphene, either alone or in combination)
• Anti-cholinergic agents (e.g, dicyclomine, hyoscyamine, propantheline).
• Ultram
• GI preparations
• Anti-nausea agents (e.g, trimethobenzamide, promethazine, prochlorperazine, dimenhydrinate, hydroxyzine)
• Osmotic laxative agents (e.g, lactulose, sorbitol or PEG solutions as Miralax and Glycolax)
• Prokinetic agents (e.g, cisapride, metoclopramide, itopride, domperidone);
• Antimuscarinics;
• Peppermint oil;
• Systemic antibiotics, rifaximin, metronidazole.
• Bleeding disorders or medications that increase risk of bleeding from mucosal biopsies.
• Score > 8 for anxiety or depression on Hospital anxiety and depression scale.
• Pregnancy