Review, 1994
What causes functional bloating (bloating with no clear medical cause) and how can it be treated?
The cause is unknown. Old explanations have been disproven, and newer ideas suggest recent weight gain, weak abdominal muscles, or fluid trapped in the small intestine. No treatment has been proven to work.
What they did
This was a review of bloating that doesn't have an obvious medical cause (functional bloating). The authors reviewed what's known about its causes and potential treatments.
What they found
Bloating is common: 10 to 25% of healthy people experience it. It is very common in people with irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or anorexia nervosa. Old explanations (low diaphragm, excessive spine curve, psychiatric causes) have been disproven. Newer theories suggest weight gain, weak abdominal muscles, or fluid in small intestine loops. No treatment is of proven benefit.
What it means for you
Bloating without a clear medical cause is common but its true cause isn't known. The main limit is that this is a review without proven treatments identified. This paper doesn't focus on bloating related to the menstrual cycle specifically.
10-25%
healthy people with bloating
About the study
- Original title
- Functional abdominal bloating
- Authors
- Sullivan SN
- Journal
- Journal of clinical gastroenterology
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- None; the abstract discusses potential treatments worth studying but no proven ones
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00004836-199407000-00007
Topics
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