title: Effect of korean herbal medicine combined with a probiotic mixture on diarrhea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: Introduction. Although combination therapy with herbal medicine and probiotics is gaining popularity for controlling diarrhea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) symptoms, few studies have investigated its clinical effects. Materials and Methods. Fifty-three patients with D-IBS were randomly allocated into 1 of the following 4 groups: herbal medicine (Gwakhyangjeonggisan; GJS) plus probiotics (Duolac7S; DUO), GJS plus placebo DUO, placebo GJS plus DUO, and placebo GJS plus placebo DUO. The study period consisted of a 2-week run-in, 8 weeks of administration, and 2 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcomes were weekly adequate relief (AR) of overall IBS symptoms and the proportion of responders (PR) during the administration period. The secondary outcomes included individual IBS symptoms, stool assessment, and quality of life. Changes of intestinal microbiota and intestinal permeability were also analyzed. Results and Discussion. Weekly AR was not different among the 4 groups throughout the treatment period. However, the 3 treatment groups exhibited significant improvements in PR compared to the findings in the placebo group. In the intestinal microbiota assessment, herbal medicine and probiotics synergistically increased beneficial bacteria counts. Conclusion. Combination therapy with herbal medicine and probiotics appears to relieve overall IBS symptoms by synergistically increasing beneficial intestinal microbe counts.
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gajin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seul-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Cell Biotech, Co., Ltd., Gaegok-Ri, Wolgot-myeon, Gyeonggi-do, Gimpo-si 415-871, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Gu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Cell Biotech, Co., Ltd., Gaegok-Ri, Wolgot-myeon, Gyeonggi-do, Gimpo-si 415-871, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bongha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jinsung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Sookmyung Women's University, Cheongpa-dong 2-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Inkwon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Kangnam Korean Hospital, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Beom-Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Moo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 26 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park