ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY
Healing the Gut Naturally
An intervention study shows gastrointestinal benefits of natural agents PUBLICATION
Ried K, Travica N, Dorairaj R, Sali A. Herbal formula improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms and gut health in Australian adults with digestive disorders. Nutr Res. 2020;76:37-51. OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a combination of natural agents for gut health is tolerable and effective in adults with gastrointestinal symptoms DESIGN
Single-arm study using differing doses of intervention over 3 consecutive 4-week periods
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Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO
Overall, the intervention significantly improved the frequency and severity of upper and lower GI symptoms by 60% to 80%.
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INTERVENTION
As noted in the table, this formulation comprised singleserving sachets of 5 grams each. The researchers asked participants to mix this with water or with food. They assessed compliance by questionnaire as well as sachet count at the end of each visit.
Table 1. Ingredient composition of each 5 g (1 sachet) of
Total study time was 16 weeks, with the first 4 weeks (month 0) used as a control period to establish baseline symptoms. During the first intervention phase (month 1), participants consumed a single sachet of the formulation daily for 4 weeks. In the second intervention phase (month 2), participants consumed 2 sachets daily for 4 weeks. For the third and final intervention phase (month 3), participants were able to choose their preferred dose: 0, 1, or 2 sachets daily. During month 3, there were 2 participants who chose not to take the formula, 13 participants who chose to take 1 sachet daily, and 28 participants who continued to take 2 sachets daily.
Participants received a sachet of the following combination of ingredients (Table 1 from publication under review here; the abbreviation NC stands for “nutrition care”):
the NC Gut Relief Formula
Ingredients
Curcuma longa rhizome as Cumerone
Per 5-g sachet
™
30.37 mg
Equiv. Curcumin (6.38 mg)
Glutamine
2.5 g
Quercetin
200 mg
Glucosamine hydrochloride
500 mg
Equiv. Glucosamine (415.05 mg) A vera (inner leaf/gel without latex & rind)
2.5 mg
Equiv. A vera leaf fresh (500 mg) Equiv. Aloe polysaccharides (187.5 mg) Equiv. Aloin (as barbaloin) (0.02 μg) Ulmus rubra (slippery elm) bark powder
500 mg
Guar gum
100 mg
Pectin
100 mg
Peppermint oil Dibasic sodium diphosphate Equiv, equivalent. Reprinted under Creative Commons 4.0 license.
3 mg 260 mg
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 43 adults, all with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, completed the study. All but 1 participant had lower GI s ymptoms (n=42). Most participants also had upper GI symptoms (n=32). The average age was 50 years, and 75% were women. All participants (n=43) completed the questionnaires at all time points. Nearly all participants (n=42) completed intestinal permeability testing at week 4 (baseline) and week 16 (study end). Stool analysis at weeks 4 and 16 was completed in 86% of participants (n=37).
14 ©2020 NATURAL MEDICINE JOURNAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NMJ, MAY 2020 SUPPLEMENT—VOL. 12, NO. 51 (SUPPL)
