Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improves quality of life in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering from concomitant dyspepsia: a subset analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Does artichoke leaf extract (ALE) ameliorate symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering concomitant dyspepsia?


METHODS
A subset analysis of a previous dose-ranging, open, postal study, in adults suffering dyspepsia. Two hundred and eight (208) adults were identified post hoc as suffering with IBS. IBS incidence, self-reported usual bowel pattern, and the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) were compared before and after a 2-month intervention period.


RESULTS
There was a significant fall in IBS incidence of 26.4% (p < 0.001) after treatment. A significant shift in self-reported usual bowel pattern away from "alternating constipation/diarrhea" toward "normal" (p < 0.001) was observed. NDI total symptom score significantly decreased by 41% (p < 0.001) after treatment. Similarly, there was a significant 20% improvement in the NDI total quality-of-life (QOL) score in the subset after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This report supports previous findings that ALE ameliorates symptoms of IBS, plus improves health-related QOL.
Bundy
Rafe
R
Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Reading, UK. r.bundy@reading.ac.uk
Walker
Ann F
AF
Middleton
Richard W
RW
Marakis
Georgios
G
Booth
Jonathan C L
JC
D000328:Adult; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D031943:Cynara scolymus; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D010936:Plant Extracts