IDDF2019-ABS-0232 Effects of terminalia chebula on patients with functional dyspepsia

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder with pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen as the main characteristic. The prevalence of FD worldwide varies between 5% and 11%. This condition adversely affects attendance and productivity in the workplace. Terminalia chebula (TC) showed to have many pharmacological activities indicating anti-diabetic, cognitive enhancer, anti-inflammatory, etc. This study aimed at investigating the <b>beneficial</b> and anti-inflammatory effect of <b>TC</b> on the severity and frequency of symptoms in patients with FD. <h3>Methods</h3> In total, 220 FD patients were included in this randomized double-blind trial, based on the ROME III diagnostic criteria, and they were divided into three intervention groups namely, TC, placebo and pantoprazole. Then, the severity and frequency of symptoms during this twelve-week trial were measured. Obtained information was analyzed using Chi-square test and repeated measures test. <h3>Results</h3> In general, the severity and frequency of symptoms after the 12th week significantly decreased in the TC group as compared to the pantoprazole and placebo groups, and continued to reduce by the end of the twelve weeks. General reduction of symptom severity and frequency in the pantoprazole group was significantly different from the placebo group by the end of the 4th and 12th weeks. With respect to each individual symptom, TC markedly improved symptoms, such as burning, pain, early satiation, fullness, bloating, belching and nausea, as compared to the placebo-treated group. Moreover, TC significantly improved symptoms, like vomiting, and nausea, except for pain, as compared to pantoprazole treated subjects. <h3>Conclusions</h3> According to the results, TC, as Indian traditional remedy, was more effective than pantoprazole and placebo in reducing the symptoms in FD patients.