Inulin, Choline and Silymarin in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation—Randomized Case-Control Study

(1) Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease, with multiple pathophysiological mechanisms involved. A single treatment for all the patients with IBS is not possible. Prebiotics may have a beneficial effect on IBS patients with constipation. (2) Methods: A randomized cross-over...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oana-Bogdana Bărboi, Ioan Chirilă, Irina Ciortescu, Carmen Anton, Vasile-Liviu Drug
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/8/2248
Description
Summary:(1) Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease, with multiple pathophysiological mechanisms involved. A single treatment for all the patients with IBS is not possible. Prebiotics may have a beneficial effect on IBS patients with constipation. (2) Methods: A randomized cross-over case-control study was conducted, including patients with IBS and constipation (IBS-C), who were randomized into two groups receiving a specific constipation diet with or without a food supplement containing inulin, choline and silymarin (Stoptoxin<sup>®</sup>, Fiterman Pharma, Iasi, Romania). Patients were evaluated at baseline, after four and eight weeks, using a questionnaire to assess IBS symptoms. (3) Results: 51 IBS-C patients were included, of which 47 patients finished the trial (33 women, mean age 52.82 years). Adding Stoptoxin<sup>®</sup> to a diet for constipation brought extra benefits. Abdominal pain severity improved by 68.3% after the diet and Stoptoxin<sup>®</sup> (<i>p</i> = 0.004) and abdominal bloating severity parameter improved by 34.8% (<i>p</i> = 0.040). The stool number per week and the stool consistency according to the Bristol scale were improved, but without statistical significance between groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The combination of inulin, choline and silymarin associated with a specific-constipation diet had obvious clinical beneficial effects on IBS-C patients in terms of bowel movement, abdominal pain and bloating.
ISSN:2077-0383