AUTHOR=Xiao Lin , Liu Qin , Luo Mei , Xiong Lishou TITLE=Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Irritable Bowel Syndrome JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2021 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2021.729346 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2021.729346 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional bowel disorder worldwide. It includes visceral hypersensitivity, gut motility, immunomodulation, gut microbiota alterations, and the imbalance in brain–gut axis interactions; however, its pathophysiology is still unclear. One of the mechanisms that gut microbiota contributes to the pathophysiology of IBS is through the production of metabolites. Therefore, we aim to review specific types of microbiota-derived metabolites, especially bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids, serotonin, and hypoxanthine, which are all implicated in the pathogenesis of IBS. Metabolites-focused research has identified multiple microbial targets relevant to IBS patients; important roles of microbiota-derived metabolites in the development of IBS symptoms have been established. Thus, we provide an overview of gut microbiota and their metabolites on the different subtypes of IBS and present controversial views about the microbiota role played in IBS.