GI Institute

Eosinophilic Esophagitis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease in which a buildup of white blood cells in the oesophagus causes swelling, inflammation, and injury. For most people, eating is effortless — but for those living with EoE, every meal can bring pain, food impaction, or an emergency room visit.

Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, the sensation of food getting stuck, chest pain, and persistent acid reflux unresponsive to standard treatment. In children, EoE may also appear as poor appetite, vomiting, and failure to thrive. While the condition is more common in males and those with allergies or a family history of EoE, anyone can develop it.

World EoE Day aims to increase global awareness of EoE, so that healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public can learn the signs of EoE, advocate for shorter diagnostic timelines, and support equitable access to care for all patients. GI Institute is proud to support and contribute to increasing international awareness and knowledge.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease in which a buildup of white blood cells in the oesophagus causes swelling, inflammation, and injury. For most people, eating is effortless — but for those living with EoE, every meal can bring pain, food impaction, or an emergency room visit.

Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, the sensation of food getting stuck, chest pain, and persistent acid reflux unresponsive to standard treatment. In children, EoE may also appear as poor appetite, vomiting, and failure to thrive. While the condition is more common in males and those with allergies or a family history of EoE, anyone can develop it.

World EoE Day aims to increase global awareness of EoE, so that healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public can learn the signs of EoE, advocate for shorter diagnostic timelines, and support equitable access to care for all patients. GI Institute is proud to support

World EoE Day aims to increase global awareness of EoE, so that healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to learn the signs of EoE, advocate for shorter diagnostic timelines, and support equitable access to care for all patients. GI Institute is proud to support and contribute to increasing international awareness and knowledge.

Do you know the most common signs of EoE in children and adults?

People with EoE typically have intermittent dysphagia that varies in severity and frequency.

They may also have acute bolus obstruction/food impaction, which often results in modified social behaviour and food choices.

These people tend to be prolonged chewers, are slow to eat and the last to finish a meal.

In younger children and infants, regurgitation and vomiting are common signs of EoE. This pattern of regurgitation may also lead to faltering weight (also known as failure to thrive).

While presentation can differ between childhood and adults, symptoms can occur at any age.

The countdown is on!
Want realistic strategies to manage your food intolerance?
Join the GI Institute, FODMAP Friendly, and Intoleran for a live panel discussion focused on practical strategies for food intolerances & digestive enzymes.

We’re moving away from theory and focusing on real-life application:
✅ Tailoring enzyme use for specific food intolerances.
✅ Timing and dosage for maximum efficacy.
✅ Empowering you to manage symptoms with confidence.

Register today! The link is in our bio.

Have questions for our international expert panel? Submit them via the link in our bio.

Can’t make it live? A recording will be available to all GI Institute Members.

At the GI Institute, we’re passionate about sharing cutting-edge gastrointestinal research that can have real-world applications. So, to kick off IBS Awareness Month, here is a showcase of some exciting new IBS research.

Confirmation of biological markers 🧪
A new large-scale systematic review found that people with IBS show detectable biological changes, challenging the perception that IBS lacks a physical basis.
People with IBS show signs of low-grade inflammation and immune system activation compared to healthy individuals.
They also identified that certain immune markers in the blood may help distinguish between IBS subtypes.
People with IBS were found to have slightly elevated levels of faecal calprotectin, though significantly lower than levels seen in IBD.

Gut bacteria, serotonin production & IBS 🦠
Researchers identified a consortium of human gut bacteria ( L. mucosae and L. ruminis) that synthesises bioactive serotonin and increases faecal serotonin levels and the modulation of intestinal transit in mice.
They also observed decreased faecal abundance of L. mucosae in individuals with IBS, suggesting a microbiota-related mechanism that may influence local serotonin biosynthesis or signalling.
While these findings are interesting, more research is needed to confirm them.

Genetic study links gut motility to thiamine 🏃‍♀️
An international multi-ancestry study has identified genetic factors influencing bowel movement frequency. The findings found that higher thiamine intake is associated with more frequent bowel movements, with effects varying according to individuals’ genetic profiles at two vitamin related genes. Future research may explore whether targeted nutritional interventions, such as thiamine supplementation, can alleviate disordered gut motility and IBS symptoms in genetically susceptible individuals.

Want realistic strategies to manage your food intolerance?
It’s IBS Awareness Month, and we’re getting practical! Join the GI Institute, FODMAP Friendly, and Intoleran for a live panel discussion focused on practical strategies for food intolerances & digestive enzymes.

We’re moving away from theory and focusing on real-life application:
✅ Tailoring enzyme use for specific food intolerances.
✅ Timing and dosage for maximum efficacy.
✅ Empowering you to manage symptoms with confidence.

Have questions for our international expert panel? Submit them directly via the link in our bio.

Can’t make it live? A recording will be available to those who’ve signed up and all GI Institute Members. A registration link will be created soon!

Endometriosis & The Gut 💛
Gastrointestinal (GI) endometriosis symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, painful bowel movements, constipation and diarrhoea. GI symptoms can arise even if no endometriosis is found in/around the intestines.
One study of 355 women reported that GI symptoms were nearly as frequent as gynaecological symptoms in women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis also shares several features of IBS, such as:
• visceral hypersensitivity
• low‐grade inflammation
• recurrent abdominal pain
• chronic stress

People with endometriosis are 3 times more likely to have IBS than the general population.

This overlap in symptoms may contribute to missed or delayed diagnosis.

Is it IBS, SIBO or Endometriosis?
The Rome criteria are not validated for endometriosis, and there are limitations in SIBO diagnosis. Additionally, as an endometriosis diagnosis is often invasive and delayed, it is extremely challenging to determine the root cause.
When a woman presents with GI symptoms and pelvic/abdominal pain, it may be related to IBS, SIBO, and/or endometriosis.
It is recommended that if a female patient:
• Has a family history of endometriosis
• Complains of chronic abdominal and/or pelvic pain
• Is suspected to have IBS
Consider targeted investigations for endometriosis.

Is there anything else that you look for to differentiate diagnoses in your patients?

What does it mean to have gut health?

The term 'gut health' is used extensively in food/supplement marketing, healthcare and in literature.

However, with gastrointestinal science consistently evolving, the way we define a healthy gut has yet to be established. Until now.

Swipe to learn about the key functional domains and determinants of gut health.

Mediterranean Diet & IBS🥗 🥙

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is defined by its focus on vegetables, fruit, breads and cereals, legumes, nuts and olive oil.

The MD also includes food/eating behaviours such as
• Eat local and seasonal foods, cooking at home
• Cook using lower temperatures, e.g. boiling or stewing, rather than frying or barbecuing
• Cook sofrito at least twice a week (sauce made by slowly simmering tomato with onion, leek, or garlic in olive oil)
• Add lemon and herbs to dishes
• Eat meals at a table for 20 minutes; pay attention to the aroma, the sight, the textures and flavour of food; eat slowly and chew well
• Pay attention to hunger and fullness; limit distractions whilst eating

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been proposed as a nutritional intervention for IBS.

It is theorised that the MD tends to have a favourable mix of fibre, polyphenols and/or fatty acids to benefit the gut microbiome.

The MD may also reduce symptoms by supporting the gut-brain axis, as the MD diet has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression for some people.

More research needs to be done to confirm and explore these theories further.

However, as the MD:
• Is not restrictive,
• is a healthy diet pattern associated with reduced risk of disease,
• and targets the gut–brain axis rather than just the gut,

It may be a beneficial tool for those with contraindications for the low FODMAP diet.

Swipe through for a refresher on fibre subtypes, properties, effects on health, and food sources.

Dietary fibre can be an extremely useful tool to support people with digestive issues, but the polymer size, solubility, viscosity and fermentability all change how fibre acts once eaten.

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