Published online Jun 28, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i24.3668
Peer-review started: January 22, 2021
First decision: February 28, 2021
Revised: March 12, 2021
Accepted: June 3, 2021
Article in press: June 3, 2021
Published online: June 28, 2021
Processing time: 153 Days and 14.8 Hours
Eating disorders (ED) involve both the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. A similar double involvement is also found in disorders of the brain-gut interaction (DGBI) and symptoms are sometimes similar.
To find out where there is an association and a cause-effect relationship, we looked for the comorbidity of DGBI and ED.
A systematic review was undertaken. A literature search was performed. Inclusion criteria for the articles retained for analysis were: Observational cohort population-based or hospital-based and case-control studies, examining the relationship between DGBI and ED. Exclusion criteria were: Studies written in other languages than English, abstracts, conference presentations, letters to the Editor and editorials. Selected papers by two independent investigators were critically evaluated and included in this review.
We found 29 articles analyzing the relation between DGBI and ED comprising 13 articles on gastroparesis, 5 articles on functional dyspepsia, 7 articles about functional constipation and 4 articles on irritable bowel syndrome.
There is no evidence for a cause-effect relationship between DGBI and ED. Their common symptomatology requires correct identification and a tailored therapy of each disorder.
Core Tip: Functional gastrointestinal disorders actually defined disorders of the brain-gut interaction (DGBI) by the new Rome IV criteria share similar symptoms with eating disorders (ED). Etiology is ill defined for both disorders thou a negative impact on quality of life and a high socio-economic burden is reported. We looked for the comorbidity of DGBI and ED, in order to find out where there is an association and a cause-effect relationship.