A US consumer gut health survey has found that 44% of Americans experience bloating or gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort after eating.
With nearly half of respondents experiencing some kind of adverse GI symptom post-meal, it is clear that gut health is a major pain point for many consumers in the US, suggesting the necessity for nutraceutical and functional food providers to cater to this niche.
The study, which was conducted by Cencuswide last month, found that 51% of Americans believe that stomach issues such as bloating, gas and GI discomfort are the standard — with only 14% of respondents noting they had an IBS diagnosis.
A notable amount of participants also reported poor prior experiences with healthcare practitioners when discussing gut health, with 27% stating they felt dismissed by their doctor after talking about their symptoms.
Interestingly, the survey points to the lack of understanding around small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a GI condition often misdiagnosed as IBS; which gains little attention, even at the medical practitioner level.
"Estimates suggest that around two thirds of IBS patients have SIBO, yet awareness remains remarkably low," commented Dr Ali Rezaie, SIBO expert and gastroenterologist.
"This lack of recognition can lead to years of misdiagnosis, even though there are simple and non-invasive diagnostic tests readily available."
Making time to address gut health
Although 14% of respondents noted their desperation for relief from gut-related symptoms, a higher proportion (35%) of respondents said they didn't know where to begin when attempting to fix their gut health issues.
27% also believe they don't have time to address it, suggesting that quick-fix nutraceutical solutions could be the way forward for many time-pressed consumers.
To address the need for effective gut health solutions, mBiota Labs has created medical food, mBiota Elemental, which acts as a liquid meal replacement — providing those with severe GI symptoms all the nutrients they need in a day.
However, this solution has been clinically proven in those with chronic GI conditions, so biotic solutions such as prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, as well as anti-inflammatory plant polyphenols may be more suitable for those with mild symptoms.
Biotic solutions also allow individuals to support their gut health while consuming a normal diet, which can be highly beneficial for food lovers.