Serine Proteases in Gastrointestinal Function and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Inclusion Criteria:

- Any sex, race, or ethnicity.

- At least 18 years of age (no upper age limit).

- D-IBS patients must meet Rome III criteria for IBS and must have been evaluated by a
physician to exclude other diseases that could explain the symptoms. For the latter,
patients self statement is acceptable (no official document is required).

- Participation in Dr. Whitehead's 'heterogeneity of IBS' and/or Dr. Ringel's
'intestinal inflammation in patients with D-IBS' research study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Healthy controls must have no significant or recurring gastrointestinal symptoms.

- Patients and healthy controls should not have a serious, unstable medical condition.

- Patients and healthy controls must have had no gastrointestinal tract surgery other
than appendectomy or cholecystectomy.

- Patients and healthy controls must not be pregnant (by self-report). Pregnant women
will not be allowed to participate as pregnancy can affect gastrointestinal symptoms.

- Patients and healthy controls must not have a history of inflammatory bowel disease,
celiac disease, or other diagnosis that could explain chronic or recurring bowel
symptoms in IBS patients or controls.

- Patients and healthy controls should have no history of lactose malabsorption (by
self-report).

- Patients and healthy controls should have no history of clinical symptoms of acute
infections during the last 8 weeks prior to enrolment in the study.

- Patients and healthy controls should have no history of anti-inflammatory agents
including aspirin, non-aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID) or steroids in
the last four weeks prior to study enrollment.

- Patients should not intentionally consume probiotics or undergo antibiotic treatment
during the last 4 weeks prior to enrolment in the study. If the subject consumed any
of these medications, a washout period of 4 weeks will be required).

- Patients must have no history of fainting or light headedness during periods of
fasting.

- Patients must not have diabetes mellitus, or any similar conditions, that would cause
an adverse reaction to the sugar drink.