Curcumin and Fennel Essential Oil Improve Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Portincasa, Piero; Bonfrate, Leonilde; Scribano, Maria Lia; Kohn, Anna; Caporaso, N.; Festi, Davide; Campanale, M.; Rienzo, Teresa Di; Guarino, Maria; Taddia, Martina; Fogli, Maria Vittoria; Grimaldi, M.; Gasbarrini, Antonio

doi:10.15403/jgld.2014.1121.252.ccm

Cited by 80 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Taken together, these previous findings should justify the combination of the two herbal products as a possible and useful therapeutic tool in IBS patients. In fact, observations from an Italian multicenter study indicated that the nutraceutical combination of curcumin and fennel essential oil was able, during one month of therapy, to clearly improve both symptoms and QoL in IBS patients enrolled in tertiary clinical centers [ 2 ]. Data from the present series, derived from a larger number of patients, confirm these positive effects in a “real-life” context of subjects enrolled by GPs (thus not in specialized clinical centers) and in a different geographical area (Belgium).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disease that significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) [ 1 ]. Conventional therapies often have poor outcomes and herbal products are currently being proposed as a useful alternative, although their efficacy is still under evaluation [ 2 ]. The combination of curcumin (derived from the turmeric herb Curcuma longa ) and fennel essential oil improved symptoms and QoL in an Italian short-term double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study involving 120 IBS patients [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conventional therapies often have poor outcomes and herbal products are currently being proposed as a useful alternative, although their efficacy is still under evaluation [ 2 ]. The combination of curcumin (derived from the turmeric herb Curcuma longa ) and fennel essential oil improved symptoms and QoL in an Italian short-term double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study involving 120 IBS patients [ 2 ]. In that study a limited number of subjects (n=60) were randomized to nutraceuticals and enrolled in tertiary referral centers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Ciaula¹

2018

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BackgroundThe 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsIBS 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.ConclusionsResults 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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Ciaula¹

2018

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“…As it relates to IBS, in a small group of patients [ 194 ], curcumin decreased abdominal pain intensity and improved quality of life. A combination of curcumin with fennel essential oil (with anethole as the active component) has also shown an improvement of symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients [ 195 ]. However, there is no evidence linking these positive clinical effects with the modulation of mast cell activity.…”

Section: Nutraceuticals Affecting Mast Cell Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mast Cell Regulation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Effects of Food Components with Potential Nutraceutical Use

2020

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Mast cells are key actors in inflammatory reactions. Upon activation, they release histamine, heparin and nerve growth factor, among many other mediators that modulate immune response and neuron sensitization. One important feature of mast cells is that their population is usually increased in animal models and biopsies from patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Therefore, mast cells and mast cell mediators are regarded as key components in IBS pathophysiology. IBS is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting the quality of life of up to 20% of the population worldwide. It is characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, with heterogeneous phenotypes ranging from constipation to diarrhea, with a mixed subtype and even an unclassified form. Nutrient intake is one of the triggering factors of IBS. In this respect, certain components of the daily food, such as fatty acids, amino acids or plant-derived substances like flavonoids, have been described to modulate mast cells’ activity. In this review, we will focus on the effect of these molecules, either stimulatory or inhibitory, on mast cell degranulation, looking for a nutraceutical capable of decreasing IBS symptoms.

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“…In a pilot study on IBS patients, the fennel reduced crampiform abdominal pain, a mechanism likely mediated by the anethole-dependent relaxation of intestinal smooth muscle [122]. The combination of curcumin-fennel essential oil has been recently used by our group and has improved symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients [123]. Further studies are required with longer follow-up and in subtypes of IBS.…”

Section: Common Dietary Targets In Treating Ibsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irritable bowel syndrome and diet

Portincasa

Bonfrate

Bari

et al. 2017

Gastroenterology Report

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and is one of the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal diseases. The impact of IBS on the general population is large due to its high prevalence, suboptimal medical treatments and significant economic burden. The pathophysiology of IBS is complex and treatments are often symptom-specific. The most common therapeutic approaches for IBS include education and reassurance, lifestyles (especially nutrition-based interventions), peripherally acting medications (which typically target motility), centrally acting medications (which target visceral hypersensitivity and pain) and psychological interventions (which aim to reduce the effects of stress or symptom-specific anxiety). A beneficial dietary approach might include the following measures: a diet low in fermentable oligo-,di- and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), limitation or exclusion of gas-producing foods and/or lactose and gluten and fiber supplementation in selected cases. New therapeutic agents, namely nutraceutics, are also an interesting option in the management of IBS patients. This paper will focus on available dietary interventions for IBS and will review the evidence for nutrition-based therapies.

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Curcumin and Fennel Essential Oil Improve Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract: CU-FEO significantly improved symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients over 30 days.

Cited by 80 publications

References 40 publications

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

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

Mast Cell Regulation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Effects of Food Components with Potential Nutraceutical Use

Irritable bowel syndrome and diet

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