Clinical Evidence: Sedoaspis

The effectiveness of microencapsulated sodium butyrate at reducing symptoms in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Konrad Lewandowski et al.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a patented preparation of sodium butyrate in the triglyceride matrix at reducing clinical symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Material and methods: In this prospective multicenter clinical trial, we observed a total of 3000 non-hospitalized patients with confirmed IBS who were treated with sodium butyrate in a triglyceride matrix at a dosage of 150 mg twice a day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was to evaluate the efficacy of sodium butyrate at reducing the severity of clinical symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with IBS.

Results: A total of 2990 complete surveys were collected. A statistically significant improvement in severity of abdominal pain was noticed (p < 0.001). Moreover, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, urgent pressure for bowel movements, nausea, and vomiting decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Most of the respondents (93.90%) declared that they would continue the therapy and 88.9% would recommend using sodium butyrate to other IBS patients.

Conclusions: Sodium butyrate in the triglyceride matrix, as a postbiotic substance, may be effective in relieving the symptoms of IBS by modifying the intestinal microbiota.

Prz Gastroenterol 2022 Jan 18;17(1):28–34. doi: 10.5114/pg.2021.112681

Butyric acid in functional constipation – Review paper

Aleksandra Pituch et al.

Abstract

Butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid, is a major energy source for colonocytes. It occurs in small quantities in some foods, and in the human body, it is produced in the large intestine by intestinal bacteria. This production can be reduced in some cases, for which butyric acid supplementation may be useful. So far, the use of butyric acid in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders has been limited because of its specific characteristics such as its rancid smell and rapid absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In the Polish market, sodium butyrate has been recently made available, produced by the modern technology of microencapsulation, which allows the active substance to reach the small and large intestines, where butyrate easily dissociates into butyric acid. This article presents the potential beneficial mechanisms of action of butyric acid in defecation disorders, which are primarily associated with reductions in pain during defecation and inflammation in the gut, among others.

Prz Gastroenterol 2013; 8 (5): 295–298 DOI: 10.5114/pg.2013.38731

Effects of Saffron Extract Supplementation on Mood, Well-Being, and Response to a Psychosocial Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Clinical Trial

Philippa A. Jackson et al.

Abstract

Anxiety, stress, and low mood are closely related and may contribute to depressive symptoms. Among non-pharmacological solutions to improve subclinical mood symptoms and resilience to stress, natural products such as saffron—identified as promising following preliminary beneficial effects in major depressive disorder—represent a relevant strategy. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of 8 weeks’ supplementation with 30 mg standardized saffron extract on emotional well-being in healthy adults with subclinical feelings of low mood and anxiety and/or stress and evaluate the acute effect of saffron in response to a lab-based psychosocial stressor. The study adopted a double-blind, randomized, parallel groups design in which 56 healthy male and female individuals (18–54 years) received either a saffron extract or a placebo for 8 weeks. Chronic effects of saffron on subjective anxiety, stress, and depressive feelings were assessed using a questionnaire battery [including Profile of Mood State-2, (POMS)] and acute effects in response to a lab-based psychosocial stressor were measured through psychological and physiological parameters. Urinary crocetin levels were quantified. Participants who received the saffron extract reported reduced depression scores and improved social relationships at the end of the study. Urinary crocetin levels increased significantly with saffron supplementation and were correlated with change in depression scores. The typical stress-induced decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) during exposure to the stressor was attenuated following acute saffron intake. Saffron extract appears to improve subclinical depressive symptoms in healthy individuals and may contribute to increased resilience against the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders.

Front. Nutr., 01 February 2021 Sec. Clinical Nutrition Volume 7 – 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.606124

The efficacy of vitamin D supplementation for irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Hangkai Huang et al.

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder involving gut-brain interactions with limited effective treatment options. Vitamin D defficiency is commonly observed in patients with IBS, but whether vitamin D supplementation ameliorates IBS is controversial in randomized controlled trials. The present systematic review and meta-analysis explored the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in patients with IBS.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of potentially relevant publications from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Studies and the Web of Science up until January 2022. We assessed the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the IBS severity scoring system (IBS-SSS), IBS quality of life (IBS-QoL) and IBS total score (IBS-TS) before and after vitamin D supplementation intervention.

Results: We included four randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving 335 participants. The differences in IBS-SSS score between participants in the intervention group and the placebo group increased after intervention (WMD: -55.55, 95% CI: -70.22 to -40.87, I 2=53.7%, after intervention; WMD: -3.17, 95% CI: -18.15 to 11.81, I 2=0.0%, before intervention). Participants receiving vitamin D supplementation showed greater improvement in IBS-SSS after intervention than participants receiving placebo treatment (WMD: -84.21, 95% CI: -111.38 to -57.05, I 2=73.2%; WMD: -28.29, 95% CI: -49.95 to -6.62, I 2=46.6%, respectively). Vitamin D supplementation was also superior to placebo in IBS-QoL improvement (WMD: 14.98, 95% CI: 12.06 to 17.90, I 2=0.0%; WMD: 6.55, 95% CI: -2.23 to 15.33, I 2=82.7%, respectively). Sensitivity analyses revealed an unstable pooled effect on IBS-TS in participants receiving vitamin D supplementation. Therefore, we did not evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D intervention in IBS-TS.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that vitamin D supplementation was superior to placebo for IBS treatment.

Nutrition Journal (2022) 21:24 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-022-00777-x

Vitamin D improves irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: A meta-analysis

 Chenxi Yan et al.

Abstract

Background & aims: Approximately 5%–10% of the population in most geographical regions suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which creates a significant burden on individual patients, their families, and society. Recent advances in IBS therapies have indicated that vitamin D supplementation is potential to relieve its symptoms, but evidence of this is lacking. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the effect of vitamin D on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in IBS patients.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched from their inception to March 2022. Statistical analyses were performed with Stata 12.0 and Review Manager 5.4, and statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. The pooled results are presented as weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The meta-analysis including 6 randomized controlled trials (RCT) with 572 patients found a significant difference in IBS symptom severity score (WMD, − 34.88; 95% CI, − 62.48 to − 7.27; P = 0.013; random-effects model) but no significant difference in IBS quality of life score (WMD, 3.33; 95% CI, − 5.12 to − 11.77; P = 0.440; random-effects model).

Conclusions: Overall, IBS patients may benefit from vitamin D supplementation to reduce the GI symptoms.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16437