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. 2018 Nov-Dec;31(6):685-691.
doi: 10.20524/aog.2018.0304. Epub 2018 Aug 6.

Efficacy of bio-optimized extracts of turmeric and essential fennel oil on the quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Agostino Di Ciaula  1 , Piero Portincasa  2 , Nathalie Maes  3 , Adelin Albert  3   4
Affiliations

Efficacy of bio-optimized extracts of turmeric and essential fennel oil on the quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Agostino Di Ciaula et al. Ann Gastroenterol. 2018 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Background: The use of herbal products to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disease that frequently affects the quality of life (QoL), is still under evaluation. This open pilot study assessed the efficacy of bio-optimized extracts of turmeric and essential fennel oil (Enterofytol®) in IBS patients.

Methods: A total of 211 patients (14% diarrhea-predominant, IBS-D; 24% constipation-predominant, IBS-C; 62% mixed, IBS-M) were enrolled by general practitioners and completed questionnaires measuring symptom severity and QoL before and after Enterofytol®, two capsules b.i.d. for one month, followed by two capsules q.d. for another month.

Results: IBS severity index and QoL were inversely related. A significant reduction in the severity index and an improvement in QoL were evident following treatment in all IBS subgroups. IBS-D patients showed the worst clinical picture at entry, with the highest IBS severity index and the lowest QoL score, compared with IBS-C and IBS-M subtypes. IBS-D patients, however, also showed the most pronounced response to therapy, considering both scores. The improvement in the IBS severity index was independent of age and sex.

Conclusions: Results from this "real-life" study show that the combination of turmeric and essential fennel oil over two months improves both symptoms and QoL in IBS patients, irrespectively of age, sex, initial severity of symptoms and IBS-subtypes, suggesting a potential role for the natural treatment of IBS.

Keywords: Abdominal pain; curcumin; fennel essential oil; irritable bowel syndrome; quality of life; turmeric.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between quality of life score and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) severity index, at enrollment, in a group of 211 IBS patients
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) severity index at entry and after 30 and 60 days of therapy with bio-optimized extracts of turmeric and essential oil of fennel in 211 IBS patients. (B) Progressive decline in the IBS severity index during 60 days of therapy, according to IBS subtype IBS-D, IBS diarrhea-predominant; IBS-C, IBS constipation-predominant; IBS-M, IBS mixed-type.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) quality of life score at entry and after 60 days of therapy with bio-optimized extracts of turmeric and essential oil of fennel in 211 patients with IBS). (B) Variation in the IBS quality of life score during 60 days of therapy, according to IBS subtype IBS-D, IBS diarrhea-predominant; IBS-C, IBS constipation-predominant; IBS-M, IBS mixed-type.
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