According to a meta-analysis of twin research studies, only a minority addressed gastrointestinal diseases, and mainly IBD and IBS. Here, we discuss similarities and differences between twin research in IBD and IBS, using these diseases as an example of the potential benefits that twin studies can offer gastroenterology.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Medizinische Zwillingsforschung in Deutschland
Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz Open Access 15 September 2021
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Polderman, T. J. et al. Meta-analysis of the heritability of human traits based on fifty years of twin studies. Nat. Genet. 47, 702–709 (2015).
van Dongen, J. et al. The continuing value of twin studies in the omics era. Nat. Rev. Genet. 13, 640–653 (2012).
Halme, L. et al. Family and twin studies in inflammatory bowel disease. World J. Gastroenterol. 12, 3668–3672 (2006).
Enck, P. et al. Irritable bowel syndrome. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers 2, 16014 (2016).
Ek, W. E., D’Amato, M. & Halfvarson, J. The history of genetics in inflammatory bowel disease. Ann. Gastroenterol 27, 294–303 (2014).
Ellinghaus, D. et al. The genetics of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — status quo and beyond. Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 50, 13–23 (2015).
Halfvarson, J. et al. Environmental factors in inflammatory bowel disease: a co-twin control study of a Swedish-Danish twin population. Inflamm. Bowel Dis. 12, 925–933 (2006).
Halfvarson, J. Genetics in twins with Crohn’s disease: less pronounced than previously believed? Inflamm. Bowel Dis. 17, 6–12 (2011).
Svedberg, P. et al. No evidence of sex differences in heritability of irritable bowel syndrome in Swedish twins. Twin Res. Hum. Genet. 11, 197–203 (2008).
Mohammed, I. et al. Genetic influences in irritable bowel syndrome: a twin study. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 100, 1340–1344 (2005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
M.G.-S. has served as an adviser and speaker for Heel, as a speaker for Schwabe and as an adviser for Yakult. P.E. received an unrestricted grant from SymbioPharm, served as adviser for Allergan, Almirall, AstraZeneca, Boehringer, Biocodex, Ferring, GA, Heel, SymbioPharm, TEVA, and UCB and as speaker for Almirall, Bayer/Steigerwald, Biogene, Boehringer, Chiesi, Heel and Sanofi. G.H. received unrestricted grants from Bayer, Commonwealth Laboratories, Falk Foundation and Takeda and served as speaker for Schwabe.
Additional information
Related links
MaTCH Meta-Analysis of Twin Correlations and Heritability: http://match.ctglab.nl/#/home
Supplementary Information
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goebel-Stengel, M., Holtmann, G. & Enck, P. Opportunities of twin research in gastroenterology. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 15, 325–326 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-018-0002-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-018-0002-0
This article is cited by
-
Medizinische Zwillingsforschung in Deutschland
Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz (2021)
-
Cognitive behavioural therapy for IBS: results or treatment as usual?
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2019)