Further validation of the IBS-QOL: a disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire

Features of the course of irritable bowel syndrome in overweight and obese people

The aim of the study: to study the characteristics of the course of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), associated with overweight and obesity, to optimize the management of this group of patients. Material and methods. An open-label cross-sectional study was performed including 175 participants aged 18 to 44 years (mean age 30.06 ± 6.15 years). Group 1 included 100 patients with IBS aged 18 to 44 years (mean age 30.63 ± 6.37 years, BMI 25.88 ± 6.28 kg/m2). In group 1, subgroup 1A included 50 people with IBS associated with overweight or obesity. Subgroup 1B included 50 IBS patients with normal weight. Group 2 included 75 people who did not suffer from IBS, aged from 19 to 43 years (mean age 29.31 ± 5.81 years, BMI 27.80 ± 6.20 kg/m2). Subgroup 2A included 50 participants who did not suffer from IBS and were overweight or obese. Subgroup 2B included 25 apparently healthy participants. The presence and severity of IBS symptoms were assessed using a 10-point scale. The severity of gastrointestinal symptoms, the presence of anxiety and depression, the level of specific anxiety, quality of life and eating habits were assessed using verified questionnaires. All participants underwent a study of the levels of leptin and adiponectin in the blood serum and zonulin in the feces. Results. The characteristic clinical stigmas in patients suffering from IBS associated with overweight and obesity are described: IBS with a predominance of constipation, severe course of the disease, high incidence of signs of depressive and anxiety disorders, special eating habits characterized by the predominance of flour, sweet, fatty and salty foods in the diet food, severe disturbances in the permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier. High concentrations of leptin and low levels of adiponectin in the blood serum of such patients may play a significant role in the formation of IBS symptoms. Conclusion. The results obtained open up opportunities for research into the pathogenetic mechanisms of the formation of IBS in people with overweight and obesity, as well as modification of existing treatment regimens for patients with IBS.

Effects of Alkaline-Reduced Drinking Water on Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ingestion of alkaline-reduced water (ARW) is helpful in improving the symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods

Twenty-seven patients (male, 25.9%; mean, 41.7 years old) with diarrhea-predominant IBS were randomly allocated to two groups. For eight weeks, the ARW group (n = 13) ingested at least 2 liters/day of ARW, while the control group (n = 14) ingested placebo water. IBS symptom scores (quality-of-life, abdominal pain/discomfort), stool form, and frequency were assessed before and after treatment via questionnaires.

Results

Eight patients (61.5%) in the ARW group and six patients (42.9%) in the control group indicated that their symptoms had improved in more than four out of the eight weeks of treatment (p = 0.449). The IBS quality-of-life score significantly improved from 57.2 to 30.8 in the ARW group; this improvement was significantly greater than the slight improvement from 48.7 to 42.2 observed in the control group (p = 0.029). The abdominal pain score improved from 1.8 to 0.9 in the ARW group and from 1.8 to 1.1 in the control group, with no significant group difference (p = 0.232).

Conclusions

Drinking ARW for eight weeks improves the quality of life in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS.

Quantifying Liver Stagnation Spleen Deficiency Pattern for Diarrhea Predominate Irritable Bowel Syndromes Using Multidimensional Analysis Methods

Objective

This study aims to offer a new approach for quantifying severity of traditional Chinese medicine pattern with multidimensional analysis methods.

Methods

A scale and theoretical models were constructed based on the definition of liver stagnation spleen deficiency pattern. Clinical data of 344 IBS-D patients from a cross-sectional study was used for feature validation of the model. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for evaluating the models. Also, multidimensional item response model was used for assessing multidimensional psychometric properties of the scale.

Results

Detecting two latent traits, the Cronbach's alpha of the 9-item scale was 0.745. Multidimensional model was evaluated with significant goodness of fit indices while the unidimensional model was rejected. The multidimensional item response model showed all the items had adequate discrimination. Parameters presented adequate explanation regarding mental syndromes having high factor loading on the liver stagnation factor and abdominal discomfort syndromes highly related to the spleen deficiency factor. Test information function showed that scale demonstrated the highest discrimination power among patients with moderate to high level of severity.

Conclusions

The application of the multidimensional analysis methods on the basis of theoretical model construction provides a useful and rational approach for quantifying the severity of traditional Chinese medicine patterns.

Low-FODMAP diet reduces irritable bowel symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIM

To investigate the effect of a low-FODMAP diet on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

This was a randomised controlled open-label trial of patients with IBD in remission or with mild-to-moderate disease and coexisting IBS-like symptoms (Rome III) randomly assigned to a Low-FODMAP diet (LFD) or a normal diet (ND) for 6 wk between June 2012 and December 2013. Patients completed the IBS symptom severity system (IBS-SSS) and short IBD quality of life questionnaire (SIBDQ) at weeks 0 and 6. The primary end-point was response rates (at least 50-point reduction) in IBS-SSS at week 6 between groups; secondary end-point was the impact on quality of life.

RESULTS

Eighty-nine patients, 67 (75%) women, median age 40, range 20-70 years were randomised: 44 to LFD group and 45 to ND, from which 78 patients completed the study period and were included in the final analysis (37 LFD and 41 ND). There was a significantly larger proportion of responders in the LFD group (n = 30, 81%) than in the ND group (n = 19, 46%); (OR = 5.30; 95%CI: 1.81-15.55, P < 0.01). At week 6, the LFD group showed a significantly lower median IBS-SSS (median 115; inter-quartile range [IQR] 33-169) than ND group (median 170, IQR 91-288), P = 0.02. Furthermore, the LFD group had a significantly greater increase in SIBDQ (median 60, IQR 51-65) than the ND group (median 50, IQR 39-60), P < 0.01.

CONCLUSION

In a prospective study, a low-FODMAP diet reduced IBS-like symptoms and increased quality of life in patients with IBD in remission.

Psychological therapies in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood disease with few effective treatments. Psychosocial factors are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IBS. Objective. To evaluate the evidence for psychological therapies in IBS treatment. Methods. We searched six medical databases through February 6, 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological therapies for the treatment of IBS. Two independent reviewers identified the RCTs, extracted the data, and assessed trial quality. We used the random-effect model to pool standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) across trials. Results. 15 RCTs that mostly evaluated cognitive behavioral therapy were included. Psychological therapies were associated with improvement in IBS symptoms severity scales (SMD -0.618; 95% CI: -0.853 to -0.383), IBS-Quality of Life (SMD 0.604; 95% CI: 0.440 to 0.768), and abdominal pain (SMD -0.282; 95% CI: -0.562 to -0.001). No statistically significant effect was observed on diarrhea or constipation. Limitations. The trials were at increased risk of bias and the overall sample size was small leading to imprecision. Conclusion. Psychological therapies may improve the quality of life and symptom severity in IBS. The effect size noted is moderate to large and is clinically meaningful.

Ehealth: Low FODMAP diet vs Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in irritable bowel syndrome

AIM: To investigate the effects of a low fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols diet (LFD) and the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

METHODS: Randomised, unblinded controlled trial on the effect of 6-wk treatment with LFD, LGG or a normal Danish/Western diet (ND) in patients with IBS fulfilling Rome III diagnostic criteria, recruited between November 2009 and April 2013. Patients were required to complete on a weekly basis the IBS severity score system (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) questionnaires in a specially developed IBS web self-monitoring application. We investigated whether LFD or LGG could reduce IBS-SSS and improve QOL in IBS patients.

RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three patients (median age 37 years, range: 18-74 years), 90 (73%) females were randomised: 42 to LFD, 41 to LGG and 40 to ND. A significant reduction in mean ± SD of IBS-SSS from baseline to week 6 between LFD vs LGG vs ND was revealed: 133 ± 122 vs 68 ± 107, 133 ± 122 vs 34 ± 95, P < 0.01. Adjusted changes of IBS-SSS for baseline covariates showed statistically significant reduction of IBS-SSS in LFD group compared to ND (IBS-SSS score 75; 95%CI: 24-126, P < 0.01), but not in LGG compared to ND (IBS-SSS score 32; 95%CI: 18-80, P = 0.20). IBS-QOL was not altered significantly in any of the three groups: mean ± SD in LFD 8 ± 18 vs LGG 7 ± 17, LFD 8 ± 18 vs ND 0.1 ± 15, P = 0.13.

CONCLUSION: Both LFD and LGG are efficatious in patients with IBS.

Effect of korean herbal medicine combined with a probiotic mixture on diarrhea-dominant irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

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.