- The study proved the relationship between food and the irritable bowel syndrome for the first time in Korea
- Published on Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM)

A research paper on irritable bowel syndrome in which Mediplex Sejong Hospital's Internal Medicine Center Head Hong Kyung-sup participated in as a responsible author was published in Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM, IF: 3.438).

The Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility is one of the world's most prestigious journals in the field of functional gastrointestinal disorders.

The research team conducted a survey of 'food and abdominal symptoms' in patients with the syndrome and healthy volunteers and found that 44.8% of the healthy subjects had uncomfortable abdominal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation due to food, while 79% of the patients with the syndrome patients were suffering such symptoms, and that the higher the severity of the disease, the higher the number of foods that cause the symptoms.

In particular, the study has implications that it is the Korea's first research project that investigated what foods cause symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in Koreans.

Hong said, "Patients with irritable bowel syndrome should be careful about food because they have a sensitive colon. It is advisable for them to check what foods cause the symptom and to reduce stimulant foods as well as Ford Map foods. As stress may cause the illness, they need to manage stress, improve their lifestyles, and exercise."