To Study Serum Electrolyte Levels in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Institutional Based Study

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal condition that normally has an altered bowel habits in addition to abdominal discomfort without the presence of any detectable structural and biochemical alterations. Few studies have found that statistically significant betterment in abdominal pain is seen amongst the clinical trials with electrolyte supplements were provided. The present study was conducted with the aim to determine the serum electrolytes level amongst patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Materials and Methods: The present observational case-control study was performed in the Department including 108 subjects between the age group of 25–60 years of age amongst them 50% were cases and 50% were controls. Blood was made to clot and serum was separated at 5000 rpm for 10 minutes and estimated for the level of potassium,chloride and sodium using direct electrolyte analyser. All the data thus obtained was arranged in tabulated from and analysed using SPSS software. Student t test was used for statistical analysis and p value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Amongst males, there were 21 cases and 30 controls. There were 33 females amongst cases and 24 controls. The sodium level amongst the cases was 138.21 ± 3.14 mEq/L and amongst the controls were 139.31 ± 3.77 mEq/L. There was no significant difference amongst the cases and controls.Conclusion: The present study showed no significant difference in the electrolyte levels amongst the cases and controls. Studies need to be conducted with larger sample size to study the significance of dyselectrolytemia.