Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. A case control experience.
OBJECTIVE
As optimal therapy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains elusive, current approach to therapy is based on symptomatic treatment. With this case-control experience we wanted to determine the beneficial effect in IBS patients of a dietary integrator (IBS Active), composed of L-tryptophan, inulin, angelica, vegetal charcoal, vitamin PP, group B vitamins (B1, B2, B6) and probiotics (Lactobacillus sporogenes, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus).


METHODS
The treatment group comprised 37 patients (11 men and 27 women; mean age, 44.3+/-5.1 years) given IBS Active (440 mg bid) over a mean period of 6 months (range, 5-8). The control group comprised 28 patients (6 men and 22 women; mean age, 48.6+/-3.7 years) who were instructed to continue their customary therapy for 6 months (range, 5-7). All subjects were assessed for the presence of abdominal pain and/or distension, constipation, diarrhea and alternating constipation and diarrhea.


RESULTS
Compared with baseline values, the reduction in abdominal pain in the treatment group was 62% (P<0.0001), 55% (P<0.0001) in abdominal distension, 58% (P=0.05) in constipation, 33% (P=0.3) in diarrhea, and 62% (P=0.01) in alternation constipation and diarrhea. Compared with baseline values, no statistically significant reduction in symptoms was found in the control group. Post-treatment comparison between the two groups showed that the study product had reduced symptoms and that the difference was statistically significant for abdominal pain (P<0.000001), abdominal distension (P=0.003) and constipation (P=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of IBS Active led to a significant improvement in pain symptoms, abdominal distension and regulation of bowel movement in IBS patients. Further study is needed to evaluate the long-term benefit of the study product.
Astegiano
M
M
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, San Giovanni Battista (Molinette) Hospital, Turin, Italy. mastegiano@molinette.piemonte.it
Pellicano
R
R
Terzi
E
E
Simondi
D
D
Rizzetto
M
M
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D029969:Angelica; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003248:Constipation / Q000517:prevention & control; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D009536:Niacinamide; D014364:Tryptophan; D007444:Inulin