Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the relationship between the gut and restless leg syndrome. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder causing unpleasant sensations in the legs that are worse with inactivity and generally affect sleep. Many people with RLS are also predisposed to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and vice versa. IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder resulting in abdominal pain and constipation/diarrhea, and there are likely causes that are not recognized medically. The brain and gut are highly connected, so these bidirectional associations are not surprising. The study shares hypotheses for this association like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), pain processing changes, iron and vitamin D deficiencies. Check out the video for more in depth information on the possible causes of restless leg syndrome!
Guo J, Pei L, Chen L, et al. Bidirectional association between irritable bowel syndrome and restless legs syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med. 2021;77:104-111.
