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Phytotherapy Research : PTR Jun 2024Turmeric has been gaining popularity as a treatment option for digestive disorders, although a rigorous synthesis of efficacy has not been conducted. This study aimed to... (Review)
Review
Turmeric has been gaining popularity as a treatment option for digestive disorders, although a rigorous synthesis of efficacy has not been conducted. This study aimed to summarize the evidence for the efficacy and safety of turmeric in the treatment of digestive disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and peptic ulcers. Literature searches were conducted in Medline, EMBASE, AMED, the Cochrane Central Register of Control Trials, and Dissertation Abstracts from inception to November 15, 2021. Dual independent screening of citations and full texts was conducted and studies meeting inclusion criteria were retained: randomized controlled trials (RCT) and comparative observational studies evaluating turmeric use in people of any age with one of the digestive disorders of interest. Extraction of relevant data and risk of bias assessments were performed by two reviewers independently. Meta-analysis was not conducted due to high heterogeneity. From 1136 citations screened, 26 eligible studies were retained. Most studies were assessed to have a high risk of bias, and many had methodological limitations. Descriptive summaries suggest that turmeric is safe, with possible efficacy in patients with IBD or IBS, but its effects were inconsistent for other conditions. The efficacy of turmeric in digestive disorders remains unclear due to the high risk of bias and methodological limitations of the included studies. Future studies should be designed to include larger sample sizes, use rigorous statistical methods, employ core outcome sets, and adhere to reporting guidance for RCTs of herbal interventions to facilitate more meaningful comparisons and robust conclusions.
Topics: Humans; Curcuma; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Plant Extracts; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Digestive System Diseases
PubMed: 38503513
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8189 -
Cureus Feb 2024Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which shares a radiographic pattern with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), is a specific form of chronic and progressive... (Review)
Review
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which shares a radiographic pattern with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), is a specific form of chronic and progressive interstitial lung disorder resulting in persistent fibrosis and impaired lung function. Most of the patients suffer from dyspnea which adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The underlying etiology of the disease is not yet understood, but research done on the subject reveals that aberrant repair mechanisms and dysregulated immune responses may be the cause. It can affect any age group but predominantly affects patients who are above 50 years of age. It has been observed that in addition to age, the reasons are also related to smoking, pollution, and inhalation of harmful elements. As the cause of IPF is still unknown and there is no cure yet, presently, it is treated to delay lung function loss with antifibrotic medications, nintedanib, and pirfenidone. However, both nintedanib and perfenidone have side effects which affect different patients in different ways and with different levels of severity, thereby making the treatment even more challenging for medical practitioners. The present systematic review aims at studying the efficacy of pirfenidone and nintedanib in relieving symptoms and in extending survival in patients. A detailed search was done in relevant articles listed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the New England Journal of Medicine between 2018 and 2023. It was observed that the most accepted way of measuring the progression of IPF is the evaluation of pulmonary function by assessing the forced vital capacity (FVC). Several studies have shown that the decline in FVC over a period of 6-12 months is directly associated with a higher mortality rate. The outcomes were similar in both male and female irrespective of age, gender, and ethnicity. However, some patients being treated with pirfenidone and nintedanib experienced various side-effects which were mainly gastrointestinal like diarrhea, dyspepsia, and vomiting. In the case of pirfenidone, some patients also experienced photosensitivity and skin rashes. In cases where the side-effects are extremely severe and are more threatening than the disease itself, the treatment has to be discontinued. The survival rate in patients with IPF is marked by a median of 3-5 years that is even lower than many cancers; hence, the treatment should be started as soon as the disease is detected. However, further research is needed to establish the etiology of IPF and to establish treatments that can stop its progression.
PubMed: 38500898
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54268 -
Complementary Medicine Research 2024For centuries, spring and other natural waters have been recommended as external or internal remedies for numerous diseases. For studies that examined the effects of...
How Effective Is Drinking Natural Mineral Water against Heartburn from Functional Dyspepsia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or Other Causes? A Systematic Review of Clinical Intervention Studies.
BACKGROUND
For centuries, spring and other natural waters have been recommended as external or internal remedies for numerous diseases. For studies that examined the effects of drinking mineral waters against heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or functional dyspepsia, a systematic review is lacking.
OBJECTIVES
The main aim of this systematic review was to examine the effects of drinking natural mineral waters on heartburn from various causes by identifying all published intervention studies and critically appraising their methods as well as summarizing their results.
METHODS
We systematically searched the largest medical literature database MEDLINE, further relevant web sources, and gray literature for randomized and nonrandomized trials, with or without control groups, up to September 2021 and no language restrictions. Further inclusion criteria were adult patients with heartburn, drinking cure with natural mineral water as the intervention, compared to no or other interventions (care-as-usual, waiting list). We defined the reduction of heartburn symptoms and duration of disease episodes as primary and quality of life as secondary outcomes. Two reviewers independently carried out the study quality assessments (risk of bias) using the National Institutes of Health-Study Quality Assessment Tools.
RESULTS
Nine trials comprising 393 patients from Italy, Russia, Ukraine, and Germany fulfilled all inclusion criteria. We identified three randomized controlled trials (all with poor methodological quality), plus six before-after (pre/post) intervention studies without a control group. The intervention groups of the three comparative trials seemed to show a stronger reduction of self-reported heartburn symptoms, and duration of heartburn episodes than the respective control groups; however, they all had poor methodological quality.
CONCLUSION
Based on the best available evidence of clinical studies, we cannot recommend or advise against drinking natural mineral waters as a treatment for heartburn. The potential benefits of natural mineral waters that were reported in some studies with a lower evidence level (e.g., lacking a control group) should be verified by good quality randomized clinical trials with adequate comparison groups and longer follow-up periods.
UNLABELLED
Hintergrund Seit Jahrhunderten werden Quell- und andere natürliche Wässer als äußerliche oder innerliche Heilmittel für zahlreiche Krankheiten empfohlen. Für Studien, die die Wirkung des Trinkens von Mineralwasser gegen Sodbrennen, gastroösophageale Refluxkrankheit (GERD) oder funktionelle Dyspepsie untersuchten, fehlt eine systematische Übersicht.Zielsetzung Das Hauptziel dieser systematischen Übersichtsarbeit war es, die Auswirkungen von Trinkkuren mit natürlichen Mineralwässern auf Sodbrennen verschiedener Ursachen zu untersuchen, indem alle veröffentlichten Interventionsstudien identifiziert und ihre Methoden kritisch bewertet sowie ihre Ergebnisse zusammengefasst wurden.Methoden Wir durchsuchten systematisch die größte medizinische Literaturdatenbank MEDLINE, weitere relevante Internetquellen und graue Literatur nach randomisierten und nicht-randomisierten Studien, mit oder ohne Kontrollgruppen, bis September 2021 und ohne sprachliche Einschränkungen. Weitere Einschlusskriterien waren erwachsene Patienten mit Sodbrennen, Trinkkur mit natürlichem Mineralwasser als Intervention, im Vergleich zu keiner oder anderen Interventionen (care-as-usual, Warteliste). Wir definierten die Abnahme der Symptome des Sodbrennens und die Dauer der Krankheitsepisoden als primäre und die Lebensqualität als sekundäre Endpunkte. Zwei Gutachter bewerteten unabhängig voneinander die Qualität der Studien (Verzerrungsrisiko) anhand der National Institutes of Health-Study Quality Assessment Tools.Ergebnisse Neun Studien mit 393 Patienten aus Italien, Russland, der Ukraine und Deutschland erfüllten alle Einschlusskriterien. Wir identifizierten drei randomisierte kontrollierte Studien (alle mit schlechter methodischer Qualität) sowie sechs Vorher-Nachher-Studien (Prä-/Post-Studien) ohne Kontrollgruppe. Die Interventionsgruppen der drei randomisierten Vergleichsstudien schienen eine stärkere Verringerung der selbstberichteten Symptome und der Dauer der Episoden des Sodbrennens zu zeigen als die jeweiligen Kontrollgruppen, allerdings waren sie alle von schlechter methodischer Qualität.Schlussfolgerung Auf der Grundlage der besten verfügbaren Belege aus klinischen Studien können wir das Trinken natürlicher Mineralwässer zur Behandlung von Sodbrennen weder empfehlen noch davon abraten. Die potenziellen Vorteile natürlicher Mineralwässer, die in einigen Studien mit geringerer Evidenz (z. B. ohne Kontrollgruppe) berichtet wurden, sollten durch qualitativ hochwertige randomisierte klinische Studien mit angemessenen Vergleichsgruppen und längeren Nachbeobachtungszeiträumen überprüft werden.Topics: Humans; Mineral Waters; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Heartburn; Dyspepsia; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38471489
DOI: 10.1159/000536528 -
PloS One 2024To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating depression and anxiety in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating depression and anxiety in patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD).
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Sinomed, and VIP Database were searched until April 30, 2023 for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) comparing acupuncture to placebo or drugs for symptom alleviation. Two independent reviewers conducted the study search, data extraction, and bias risk assessment using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Mean difference (MD), risk ratio (RR), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was employed to evaluate the evidence level.
RESULTS
A total of 16 RCTs involving 1315 participants were included. Acupuncture demonstrated marked superiority over placebo (MD = -7.07, 95%CI: -11.03 to -3.10, very low quality evidence) in mitigating Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores and was found to be more effective in reducing Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores than either placebo (MD = -4.63, 95%CI: -6.28 to -2.98, low quality evidence) or first-line drugs (MD = -2.71, 95%CI: -5.19 to -0.23, very low quality evidence). In terms of attenuating Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores, acupuncture consistently outperformed both placebo (HAMA: MD = -2.58, 95%CI: -4.33 to -0.83, very low quality evidence; HAMD: MD = -1.89, 95%CI: -3.11 to -0.67, low quality evidence) and first-line drugs (HAMA: MD = -5.76, 95%CI: -10.18 to -1.35, very low quality evidence; HAMD: MD = -5.59, 95%CI: -7.59 to -3.59, very low quality evidence). However, no significant difference was observed between acupuncture and placebo in terms of improvement in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on current clinical evidence, acupuncture might have a positive effect on depression and anxiety in patients with FD. Further large-sample, multi-center, high-quality RCTs validation are required, as the conclusion is limited by the quantity and quality of the included studies.
Topics: Humans; Acupuncture Therapy; Anxiety; Depression; Dyspepsia
PubMed: 38452033
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298438 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Feb 2024Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disease of the oral cavity that causes progressive constriction of the cheeks and mouth accompanied by severe pain and reduced... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disease of the oral cavity that causes progressive constriction of the cheeks and mouth accompanied by severe pain and reduced mouth opening. OSF has a significant impact on eating and swallowing, affecting quality of life. There is an increased risk of oral malignancy in people with OSF. The main risk factor for OSF is areca nut chewing, and the mainstay of treatment has been behavioural interventions to support habit cessation. This review is an update of a version last published in 2008.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the benefits and harms of interventions for the management of oral submucous fibrosis.
SEARCH METHODS
We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 5 September 2022.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of adults with a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of OSF treated with systemic, locally delivered or topical drugs at any dosage, duration or delivery method compared against placebo or each other. We considered surgical procedures compared against other treatments or no active intervention. We also considered other interventions such as physiotherapy, ultrasound or alternative therapies.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were 1. participant-reported resumption of normal eating, chewing and speech; 2. change or improvement in maximal mouth opening (interincisal distance); 3. improvement in range of jaw movement; 4. change in severity of oral/mucosal burning pain/sensation; 5.
ADVERSE EFFECTS
Our secondary outcomes were 6. quality of life; 7. postoperative discomfort or pain as a result of the intervention; 8. participant satisfaction; 9. hospital admission; 10. direct costs of medication, hospital bed days and any associated inpatient costs for the surgical interventions. We used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence for each outcome.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 30 RCTs (2176 participants) in this updated review. We assessed one study at low risk of bias, five studies at unclear risk of bias and 24 studies at high risk of bias. We found diverse interventions, which we categorised according to putative mechanism of action. We present below our main findings for the comparison 'any intervention compared with placebo or no active treatment' (though most trials included habit cessation for all participants). Results for head-to-head comparisons of active interventions are presented in full in the main review. Any intervention versus placebo or no active treatment Participant-reported resumption of normal eating, chewing and speech No studies reported this outcome. Interincisal distance Antioxidants may increase mouth opening (indicated by interincisal distance (mm)) when measured at less than three months (mean difference (MD) 3.11 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46 to 5.77; 2 studies, 520 participants; low-certainty evidence), and probably increase mouth opening slightly at three to six months (MD 8.83 mm, 95% CI 8.22 to 9.45; 3 studies, 620 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Antioxidants may make no difference to interincisal distance at six-month follow-up or greater (MD -1.41 mm, 95% CI -5.74 to 2.92; 1 study, 90 participants; low-certainty evidence). Pentoxifylline may increase mouth opening slightly (MD 1.80 mm, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.58; 1 study, 106 participants; low-certainty evidence). However, it should be noted that these results are all less than 10 mm, which could be considered the minimal change that is meaningful to someone with oral submucous fibrosis. The evidence was very uncertain for all other interventions compared to placebo or no active treatment (intralesional dexamethasone injections, pentoxifylline, hydrocortisone plus hyaluronidase, physiotherapy). Burning sensation Antioxidants probably reduce burning sensation visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at less than three months (MD -30.92 mm, 95% CI -31.57 to -30.27; 1 study, 400 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), at three to six months (MD -70.82 mm, 95% CI -94.39 to -47.25; 2 studies, 500 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) and at more than six months (MD -27.60 mm, 95% CI -36.21 to -18.99; 1 study, 90 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence was very uncertain for the other interventions that were compared to placebo and measured burning sensation (intralesional dexamethasone, vasodilators). Adverse effects Fifteen studies reported adverse effects as an outcome. Six of these studies found no adverse effects. One study evaluating abdominal dermal fat graft reported serious adverse effects resulting in prolonged hospital stay for 3/30 participants. There were mild and transient general adverse effects to systemic drugs, such as dyspepsia, abdominal pain and bloating, gastritis and nausea, in studies evaluating vasodilators and antioxidants in particular.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We found moderate-certainty evidence that antioxidants administered systemically probably improve mouth opening slightly at three to six months and improve burning sensation VAS scores up to and beyond six months. We found only low/very low-certainty evidence for all other comparisons and outcomes. There was insufficient evidence to make an informed judgement about potential adverse effects associated with any of these treatments. There was insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of the other interventions tested. High-quality, adequately powered intervention trials with a low risk of bias that compare biologically plausible treatments for OSF are needed. It is important that relevant participant-reported outcomes are evaluated.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Oral Submucous Fibrosis; Pentoxifylline; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Vasodilator Agents; Abdominal Pain; Antioxidants; Dexamethasone
PubMed: 38415846
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007156.pub3 -
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu = Acupuncture Research Feb 2024Neuroimaging technology provides objective and visualized research tool to study the mechanisms of acupuncture effects. Building on a systematic review of previous...
Neuroimaging technology provides objective and visualized research tool to study the mechanisms of acupuncture effects. Building on a systematic review of previous clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia using neuroimaging technology, this paper summarizes and synthesizes past researches from 4 aspects: acupoint-specific effects, factors influencing the effects, different physiological responses, and predictive factors for acupuncture efficacy. It suggests that acupuncture treatment for FD involves central integration with disease-targeted (acupuncture treatment can target and regulate abnormal brain functional activity patterns in patients with FD), meridian-specific (stimulation of specific acupuncture points along the stomach meridian can significantly regulate abnormal brain functional activity patterns in FD patients), and dynamic conditional features(the effects of acupuncture treatment for FD are influenced by multiple factors). Lastly, considering the current research status, this paper outlines prospects in terms of research subjects, influencing factors, and result validation, aiming to provide references for future in-depth research.
Topics: Humans; Dyspepsia; Acupuncture Therapy; Meridians; Acupuncture Points; Neuroimaging
PubMed: 38413041
DOI: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.20221289 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2024Although functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common functional gastroduodenal disorder with a high socioeconomic burden, little is known about its global prevalence. Thus, we... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Although functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common functional gastroduodenal disorder with a high socioeconomic burden, little is known about its global prevalence. Thus, we performed a comprehensive study to estimate long-term trends in the prevalence of FD. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar from 1990 to 2022 for population-based studies that reported the prevalence of FD in adults (≥ 18 years old) according to Rome I, II, III, or IV criteria. The prevalence of FD was extracted from included studies to obtain pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and 95% prediction intervals. Subgroup analysis was performed according to certain characteristics, including geographic region. A total of 44 studies met the eligibility criteria, including 256,915 participants from 40 countries across six continents. The overall global pooled prevalence of FD was 8.4% (95% CI 7.4-.9.5). The prevalence was the highest in Rome I (11.9%; 95% CI 5.1-25.4) and lowest in Rome IV (6.8%; 95% CI 5.8-7.9). Developing countries showed a higher prevalence than developed countries (9.1% versus 8.0%), and prevalence was higher in women, irrespective of the definition used (9.0% versus 7.0%). The pooled prevalence gradually decreased from 1990 to 2020 (12.4% [8.2-18.3] in 1990-2002 versus 7.3% [6.1-8.7] in 2013-2020). The prevalence of FD differs by country, economic status, geographical region, and sex, and the global prevalence has been gradually declining. Despite the heterogeneity of sample population, our study estimates the current global burden of FD and provides information to heath care policy decisions.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Adolescent; Dyspepsia; Prevalence; Rome; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 38378941
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54716-3 -
BMC Gastroenterology Jan 2024Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are closely related to disorders of brain-gut interaction. FGIDs are the dominant disease of acupuncture treatment, which...
BACKGROUND
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are closely related to disorders of brain-gut interaction. FGIDs are the dominant disease of acupuncture treatment, which can improve the symptoms and emotional state.
AIM
To evaluate the results and quality of the available clinical evidence and to summarize the central mechanism and effect of acupuncture on FGIDs.
METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched by computer to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which contained central mechanisms via fMRI research of acupuncture in the treatment of FGIDs patients. The search time limit was from the establishment of the database to June 22, 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality.
RESULTS
Ten RCTs involving fMRI data were included in this study, including 4 Functional dyspepsia (FD) studies, 3 irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) studies, and 3 functional constipation (FC) studies. The score of improvements in both gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms showed that acupuncture could significantly improve the clinical symptoms of FGIDs patients, including abdominal pain, abdominal distension, frequency of defecation, and stool characteristics, and could relieve anxiety and depression symptoms of patients. Acupuncture could regulate brain functional connections and functional activity in FGIDs patients, mainly including insula, anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala and other brain regions.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture can improve gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological status in FGIDs patients, and regulate functional connectivity and activity of brain regions such as insula, ACC, PFC, thalamus, HIPP, amygdala, etc. These changes in brain activity may related to visceral sensation, pain regulation, emotion, but further studies of high quality are still necessary.
Topics: Humans; Abdominal Pain; Acupuncture Therapy; Anxiety; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Irritable Bowel Syndrome
PubMed: 38267863
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-024-03124-y -
Indian Journal of Gastroenterology :... Jan 2024BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Persistent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are increasingly being recognized after... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Persistent gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are increasingly being recognized after Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Though quite a few studies addressed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) following COVID-19, the disorders' prevalence varies greatly. We evaluated, (i) overall frequency of post-COVID-19 IBS, (ii) relative risk of development of IBS among COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls using systematic review and meta-analysis techniques.
METHODS
Literature search was performed for studies on GI symptoms and FGIDs after COVID-19 using electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar and Web of Science) till April 28, 2023. We included studies reporting IBS after COVID-19 with any duration of follow-up and any number of subjects. Studies on pediatric population and those not providing relevant information were excluded. Relative risk of development of IBS using Rome criteria among COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls was calculated. Analysis was done using MedCalc (Applied Math, Mariakerke, Belgium, version 7.2) and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3.3.070 (Biostat Inc. Englewood, NJ 07631, USA).
RESULTS
Of the available studies, 13 (four case-control) reporting on IBS after COVID-19 met inclusion criteria. Among 3950 COVID-19 patients and 991 controls, 7.2% of COVID-19 patients and 4.9% of healthy controls developed IBS. Of the four case-control studies reporting post-COVID-19 IBS, patients with COVID-19 were 2.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.538 to 13.039) times more likely to have post-COVID-19 IBS as compared to healthy controls.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with COVID-19 are more likely to develop post-COVID-19 IBS than healthy controls. The heterogeneity of studies, different criteria used by various studies to diagnose post-COVID-19 IBS and some studies not meeting the six-month follow-up duration of the Rome criteria for diagnosing IBS are limitations of this systematic review.
PubMed: 38261245
DOI: 10.1007/s12664-023-01486-x -
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Jan 2024Visceral hypersensitivity (VH) is an overreaction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to various stimuli and is characterized by hyperalgesia and/or allodynia. VH...
BACKGROUND
Visceral hypersensitivity (VH) is an overreaction of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to various stimuli and is characterized by hyperalgesia and/or allodynia. VH contributes to the etiology of many GI dysfunctions, particularly irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although the exact mechanisms underlying VH are yet to be found, inflammation and oxidative stress, psychosocial factors, and sensorimotor alterations may play significant roles in it.
OBJECTIVE
In this review, we provide an overview of VH and its pathophysiological function in GI disorders. Adverse effects of synthetic drugs may make herbal agents a good candidate for pain management. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss the efficacy of herbal agents in the management of VH with a focus on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials.
METHODS
Data were extracted from clinical and animal studies published in English between 2004 and June, 2020, which were collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Library.
RESULTS
Overall, Radix, Melissia, Glycyrrhizae, Mentha, and Liquorice were the most efficient herbals for VH management in IBS and dyspepsia, predominantly through modulation of the mRNA expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) and suppression of 5- hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) or the serotonin receptors.
CONCLUSION
Considering the positive effects of herbal formulations in VH management, further research on novel herbal and/or herbal/chemical preparations is warranted.
PubMed: 38258770
DOI: 10.2174/0113892010261502231102040149