Abstract
This review article sought to discuss the relationship of the intestinal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome, which is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the world and leads to changes in intestinal habits causing abdominal pain and discomfort. Its pathophysiology is still not well established, however, recent studies show that alteration of the intestinal microbiota may be the main trigger of this disease. This article aims to study how this imbalance in the intestinal microbiota can influence the development or exacerbation of irritable bowel syndrome. Dysbiosis, which is the interruption of the symbiotic relationship in the intestine, facilitates the invasion and growth of pathogenic species in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to an imbalance in the homeostasis of the immune system and the mucous barrier. Thus, this change in colonizing bacteria in the intestine can lead to a change in the intestinal barrier and in the expression of antimicrobial proteins leading to irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, some probiotics have been tested for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, since they aim to restore the microbiota and reestablish intestinal balance.