Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects will be selected for all studies based on the Rome I criteria. This will be the preferred method of identifying IBS patients to avoid pre-selecting patients with C- IBS. The goal is to evaluate methane as the determinant of transit, not constipation or diarrhea symptoms as through Rome II criteria. All subjects who are receiving a prokinetic drug at the time of enrollment will need to have a washout period of 7 days before starting the study protocol. Subjects will be identified through advertising in printed media and through the clinical operations of the GI motility program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, previous intestinal surgery, cirrhosis, celiac disease, probiotic use, current proton pump inhibitor use, recent antibiotic use (past 3 months), history of bowel obstruction, narcotic use or age greater than 65 years will be excluded. Most of these conditions are known to influence enteric bacteria levels. Women of childbearing years will undergo pregnancy testing before participating in the study (See below for details on the pregnancy test used). Women with positive pregnancy tests will be excluded.