USING BREWER’S YEAST AND GINGER IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CONSTIPATION-PREDOMINANT IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study is to confirm and/or prove the beneficial outcomes from using Brewer’s yeast and Ginger in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) subjects compared to placebo. Methods: A total of 45 patients suffering from IBS-C were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled study as defined by Rome III criteria. Parallel groups were randomly assigned in this study: A placebo group, Brewer’s yeast group, and ginger group, taken daily for 20 days. IBS severity scale and visual analog scale for IBS (VAS-IBS) were used to assess the severity of pain, abdominal distention, and constipation (IBS-C) subjects. The data were measured at 3 times: At 0 time (T0), after 10 days of treatment (T10), and after 20 days of treatment (T20) for the three treatment groups. Results: Intragroup analysis showed a clinically significant reduction in the symptoms of abdominal pain, distention, and constipation, in the Brewer’s yeast group compared to placebo after the 20 days of the study. There was also a significant reduction of abdominal distention and constipation symptoms in the ginger group throughout the study. Conclusion: This study reveals the beneficial effects of Brewer’s yeast and ginger in reducing troublesome gastrointestinal symptoms in subjects with IBS-C and holds the promise to use them in IBS-C patient.