Abstract
Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms (CGS) negatively affect the quality of life in about 15–30% of the population without effective drugs. Recent studies suggest that dietary supplement may improve CGS, but inconsistent results exist. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of a polyherbal-based supplement ColonVita on the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) in 100 old adults with CGS (63.1 ± 9.6 years) who were randomly assigned to daily ColonVita or placebo tablets (n = 50/group) for 12 weeks in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial design. No significant fibrdifferences were found between ColonVita and placebo in the baseline total GIQLI score (101.12 ± 16.87 vs. 101.80 ± 16.48) (P > 0.05) or postintervention total GIQLI score (114.78 ± 9.62 vs. 111.74 ± 13.01) (P > 0.05). However, ColonVita significantly improved 16 scores of the 19 core GI symptoms compared with 10 items improved by placebo. The ColonVita group significantly improved the remission rate of 5 core GI symptoms compared to placebo and significantly improved the total GIQLI scores (118.09 ± 7.88 vs. 109.50 ± 16.71) (P < 0.05) and core GI symptom scores (64.61 ± 3.99 vs. 60.00 ± 8.65) (P < 0.05) in people ≥60 years of age (n = 49) but not in those under 60 y (n = 51). ColonVita significantly improved the total GIQLI scores and core GI symptom scores in people without cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (n = 56) (116.74 ± 9.38 vs. 110.10 ± 14.28) (P < 0.05) and (63.11 ± 4.53 vs. 59.93 ± 8.03) (P=0.07), respectively, but not in those with CVD (n = 44). Thus, ColonVita was beneficial for old adults with CGS, especially those ≥60 years of age and without CVD. Because a heterogenous pathogenesis of CGS-like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (ISD) is differentially associated with CVD, different comorbidities may have influenced the outcomes of different trials that should be controlled in further studies.
Highlights
Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms (CGS) include a range of medical conditions from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD) that affect about 15–30% of the general population. e common symptoms of CGS include inflammation, postprandial abdominal pain, dyspepsia, abdominal distention, anorexia, heartburn, vomiting, constipation, and chronic diarrhea. e impact on the overall quality of life is the most significant complication of CGS [1].CGS used to be more common in industrialized countries that have steadily increased since the middle of 20th century but remains low in developing countries [2]
CGS may occur in young and old people due to changes in the intestinal microenvironment or weakened physiological function of the digestive and absorption systems [5]. e contract and relaxation of the muscles lining the intestines to move food along the digestive tract can be weakened by venous thromboembolism (VTE) and ischemic colitis that result in intermittent abdominal pain/discomfort, altered bowel patterns, and abdominal bloating/distension [6]
Baseline of Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). ere are no baseline differences between the ColonVita and placebo groups in the total gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) score (101.12±16.87 vs. 101.80±16.48, P>0.05) and in the subdomain scores of the core GI symptoms (55.70±8.51vs. 56.30±8.58, P>0.05), psychological/emotional state (13.22±3.18 vs. 13.28±2.84, P>0.05), physiological function (17.82±5.42 vs. 17.68±5.15, P>0.05), and daily life and social activities (14.38±3.12 vs. 14.54±3.16, P>0.05) (Table 2)
Summary
Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms (CGS) include a range of medical conditions from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD) that affect about 15–30% of the general population. e common symptoms of CGS include inflammation, postprandial abdominal pain, dyspepsia, abdominal distention (bloating), anorexia, heartburn, vomiting, constipation, and chronic diarrhea. e impact on the overall quality of life is the most significant complication of CGS [1].CGS used to be more common in industrialized countries that have steadily increased since the middle of 20th century but remains low in developing countries [2]. E common symptoms of CGS include inflammation, postprandial abdominal pain, dyspepsia, abdominal distention (bloating), anorexia, heartburn, vomiting, constipation, and chronic diarrhea. By the turn of 21st century, CGS have become a global disease as more people in newly industrialized countries adapted to the life styles of the industrialized countries. CGS may occur in young and old people due to changes in the intestinal microenvironment or weakened physiological function of the digestive and absorption systems [5]. E contract and relaxation of the muscles lining the intestines to move food along the digestive tract can be weakened by venous thromboembolism (VTE) and ischemic colitis that result in intermittent abdominal pain/discomfort, altered bowel patterns, and abdominal bloating/distension [6] CGS may occur in young and old people due to changes in the intestinal microenvironment or weakened physiological function of the digestive and absorption systems [5]. e contract and relaxation of the muscles lining the intestines to move food along the digestive tract can be weakened by venous thromboembolism (VTE) and ischemic colitis that result in intermittent abdominal pain/discomfort, altered bowel patterns, and abdominal bloating/distension [6]
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