IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
A chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits without identifiable structural cause. The microbiome is increasingly recognised as a contributing factor, with IBS patients typically showing reduced microbial diversity and altered bacterial composition compared to healthy controls.
Related terms
FODMAP
Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols — a group of short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed and rapidly fermented by gut bacteria. The low-FODMAP diet is an evidence-based treatment for IBS symptoms, developed at Monash University.
Dysbiosis
An imbalance in the composition or function of the microbiome, typically characterised by reduced diversity, loss of beneficial bacteria, or overgrowth of potentially harmful species.
Gut-Brain Axis
The bidirectional communication system between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system, involving neural, hormonal, and immune pathways. The microbiome plays a central role in this communication.