Symptoms Of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Articles

Breastfeeding Duration Reduces the Risk of Childhood Leukemia and Modifies the Risk of Developing Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the duration of breastfeeding in infancy reduces the risk of childhood leukemia or lymphoma, and modifies the risk of developing functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Subjects and Methods: This case-control study involved the recruitment of children with lymphoid malignancy and functional gastrointestinal symptoms with healthy children as controls. Focused questionnaires were used to collect data on breastfeeding history and other key risk factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken. Results: Of the 334 children with lymphoid malignancy, 65% were male. The control group included 334 age- and sex-matched participants. Most (n = 189; 56.6%) of the children with leukemia were <10 years of age. Differences between cases and controls included the duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.0001), mean birthweight (p < 0.001), maternal age (p < 0.001), paternal age (p < 0.001), birth order (p < 0.001), mean number of children (p < 0.001), BMI percentile (p = 0.042), and maternal smoking (p = 0.012). Breastfeeding duration of up to 6 months' duration, when compared with feeding of longer than 6 months, was associated with increased odds ratios (OR) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR = 3.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.37-4.98; p < 0.001), Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 0.88-2.84, p = 0.120), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.25-3.65, p = 0.005), and overall (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.40-2.71, p < 0.001). Cases also differed from controls with regard to FGIDs, such as stomach ache (p < 0.001), dyspepsia (p < 0.001), early satiety (p = 0.017), bowel satisfaction (p < 0.001), bloating (p < 0.001), nausea (p = 0.005), vomiting (p = 0.039), constipation (p = 0.003), diarrhea (p = 0.010), gastrointestinal canal congestion (p =0.039), muscle aches pains (p = 0.008), fecal incontinence (p = 0.021), and indigestion (p = 0.003). A multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that maternal smoking (p < 0.001), formula feeding (p < 0.001), duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.001), birth order (p = 0.002), mother's age (p = 0.004) and the child's birthweight (p = 0.009) were predictors for leukemia. Further analysis showed that dyspepsia (p < 0.001), gastrointestinal tract canal congestion (p < 0.001), constipation (p = 0.009), diarrhea (p = 0.013), bowel satisfaction (p = 0.021), bloating (p = 0.022), duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.001), and stomach ache (p = 0.025) were significant predictors for developing FGID symptoms after adjusting for age, gender, and other confounding variables. Conclusion: This study confirmed that breastfeeding has some effect on reducing possible risk of childhood lymphoma and leukemia and FGID symptoms compared with healthy control children.

Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with Autism and ADHD: Profiles of Hair and Salivary Cortisol, Serum Leptin Concentrations and Externalizing/Internalizing Problems.

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) present a higher prevalence in individuals with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs). The Stress System and the Gut-Brain axis (GBA) may mediate these relations. We aimed to assess the prevalence and profile of FGIDs in a clinical sample of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compared to typically developing children (TD) as well as to investigate possible relations between stress-related biomarkers and internalizing/externalizing problems in children with NDDS. In total, 120 children, aged between 4 and 12 years old, formed three groups (N = 40, each): ADHD, ASD and TD. Salivary cortisol, hair cortisol and serum leptin were measured. The ASD group had more FGID problems than the TD group (p = 0.001). The ADHD and ASD groups had higher total internalizing/externalizing problems than the TD group (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.005, respectively). Children with FGIDs showed more total, internalizing and externalizing problems compared to children without FGIDs (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.041, respectively). The ADHD group showed lower AUCg values (p < 0.0001), while the hair cortisol was higher for the TD group (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, children with NDDs had more FGID symptoms and present higher internalizing and externalizing problems. Children with ADHD and FGIDs had more internalizing problems compared to those without FGIDs. No differences in stress-related biomarkers were shown to differentiate children with NDDs with and without FGIDs. Future prospective studies including a greater number of children may elucidate the biological pathways linking these comorbidities.

Perspective of probiotic bacteria in the production of soy-based fermented products

Relevance. It is worth noting that consumers’ awareness of the environmental burden that milk production carries continues to grow. Consumers are looking for alternatives that are more environmentally friendly and have high nutritional value. The demand for plant-based products is increasing for various reasons, namely, 65% of the world’s population has a reduced ability to digest lactose and 6% of the population is allergic to milk protein. According to statistics, 49% of women and 36.6% of men experience symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Soybeans are one of the most widely grown and consumed legumes worldwide. Thus, the development of new plant-based fermented products is a particularly actual issue.Methods. The objects of study were soybean dispersion and microorganisms Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Propionibacterium. The quality indicators of the resulting soy dispersion were determined. The process of acid accumulation during fermentation with probiotic microorganisms were studied. Data on the accumulation of bacterial biomass during the fermentation process were obtained and the effect of the use of selected starter microorganisms on the change in the antioxidant status of fermented dispersions during storage were investigated.Results. Research results showed that soybean dispersion is a good substrate to produce fermented beverages using Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Propionibacterium microorganisms. The most rapid process occurs when L. bulgaricus and P. schermanii KM-186 are used and the fermentation lasted for 6 hours. All selected strains adapt well to the plant-based media, but the greatest increase in biomass occurs during fermentation with L. bulgaricus, B. longum B379M and B. bifidum. Lactic acid and propionic acid bacteria provide high and stable levels of antioxidant activity on both the 1st and 6th and 12th days of storage.

A Review of the Efficacy of the Low Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols (FODMAP) Diet in Managing Gastrointestinal Symptoms Related to Cancer Treatment.

The low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet, designed to alleviate symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), focuses on limiting the consumption of poorly absorbed fermentable carbohydrates known as FODMAP. These FODMAP are believed to be the primary triggers for food-related gastrointestinal symptoms in functional gastrointestinal disorders. However, there is currently insufficient direct evidence investigating the role of low FODMAP diets in cancer patients undergoing treatment. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the low FODMAP diet and its potential implications for cancer patients in terms of treatment outcomes, alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall health. A systematic literature search was conducted using databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Five studies met the criteria for inclusion in the review, and these studies covered rectal toxicity during radiotherapy, gastrointestinal symptoms in colorectal cancer patients, acute gastrointestinal toxicity during pelvic external beam radiotherapy, symptoms in patients with radiation-induced enteropathy, and chronic gastrointestinal sequelae resulting from pelvic organ cancer treatment. The available evidence suggests that a low FODMAP diet may offer advantages in reducing rectal gas and volume during radiotherapy, alleviating diarrhea symptoms, reducing symptom deterioration, and improving quality of life. However, these studies highlight the need for large-scale randomized trials, long-term follow-up, and guidelines to establish the efficacy, safety, and implementation strategies of the low FODMAP diet in different cancer contexts and patient populations. While preliminary findings reported some possible benefits of a low FODMAP diet for certain cancer patients, rigorous studies with large sample sizes are needed to provide more robust evidence. Further research is warranted to optimize the utilization of this diet as an adjunctive intervention for managing gastrointestinal symptoms in this population.

Screening for functional gastrointestinal disorders in preterm infants up to 12 months of corrected age: a prospective cohort study

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterized by a variety of symptoms that are frequently age-dependent, chronic, or recurrent and are not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. There are studies in the literature reporting different results regarding the relationship between prematurity and FGIDs. The main objective of this study was to compare the frequency of FGIDs between preterm and term infants. The secondary objective was to evaluate whether there was any association between neonatal characteristics and development of FGIDs. A multicenter prospective cohort study that included preterm infants born before 37 weeks of gestation and healthy term infants was carried out. At 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age, infants were assessed for the presence of FGIDs using the Rome IV criteria. In preterm infants, an additional follow-up visit was made at 12 months corrected age. 134 preterm and 104 term infants were enrolled in the study. Infantile colic, rumination syndrome, functional constipation, and infant dyschezia were more common in preterm infants. Incidence of other FGIDs (infant regurgitation, functional diarrhea and cyclic vomiting syndrome) were similar among preterm and term infants. Preterm infants who are exclusively breastfeed in the first 6 months of life have a lower incidence of infantile colic (18.8% vs 52.1%, p = 0.025). In terms of chronological age, FGIDs symptoms started later in preterm infants; this difference was statistically significant for infantile colic and regurgitation (median age 2 months vs 1 month, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Preterm infants have a higher prevalence of FGIDs compared with term controls. Therefore, especially if they have gastrointestinal complaints, they should be screened for FGIDs. Possibly due to maturational differences, the time of occurrence of FGIDs may differ in preterm infants. Infantile colic incidence decreases with exclusive breastfeeding.What is Known:• The functional gastrointestinal disorders are a very common in infancy.• Data on preterm infants with FGIDs are currently very limited.What is New:• Preterm infants have a higher incidence of infantile colic, rumination syndrome, functional constipation and infant dyschezia when compared to term infants.• Preterm infants who are exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life experience a lower incidence of infantile colic.

Central mechanisms of acupuncture in relieving visceral hypersensitivity in functional gastrointestinal disorders: A narrative review

Abstract Visceral hypersensitivity (VH), one of the major symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), impacts the social life and quality of life of the patients. Because of the complex pathological mechanism, the drug therapy for VH has unsatisfactory clinical efficacy and induces side effects. Alternative strategies acting on the central nervous system with few side effects are urgently needed. We summarize the central mechanisms of acupuncture in relieving VH to provide theoretical support for the clinical application of acupuncture in the treatment of VH in FGIDs. In this study, we retrieved the related articles from PubMed and Web of Science with the key words of “acupuncture,”“electroacupuncture,” and “visceral hypersensitivity.” According to the sensory conduction, perception, and emotion-related pathways involved in VH, we summarize the central mechanism of acupuncture in relieving VH from the perspectives of molecular biology and neuroimaging. The pathogenesis of VH in FGIDs involves the peripheral and central nervous systems, which are responsible for the transmission and perception of visceral sensations as well as the regulation of emotion. The widespread nature of VH indicates the involvement of the central nervous system. Acupuncture mediates the signaling pathways between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain to regulate gastrointestinal function and relieve VH. Acupuncture relieves VH by integrating multiple pathways and targets. The available studies in this field mainly focus on the regulation of a specific target or chemical transmitter by acupuncture, while the exact connection among these targets remains to be clarified by multilevel and multitarget studies.

A personalized approach to the management of breastfed infants with functional gastrointestinal disorders and cow’s milk allergy. The role of nutritional recommendations for a nursing mother

Introduction. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) in infants are a complex of symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract that cannot be explained by structural or biochemical disorders. To alleviate the symptoms of functional disorders, a set of measures is required, first of all, psychological support for the mother and, of course, rational feeding, which includes maintaining breastfeeding, optimizing the nutrition of the nursing mother. Despite the abundance of professional information on this issue, previous studies demonstrate a low level of women’s awareness of nutrition during breastfeeding. The aim of the work is to determine the effectiveness of recommendations on nursing mother’s nutrition in the complex treatment of breastfed children with FGID and allergy to cow’s milk proteins.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Seventy five mother–child pairs were included in the study. 1–4 months infants exclusively breastfed during the study were divided into two groups: 1 — FGID infants (n = 51) and 2 — infants with suspected cow’s milk allergy (CMA) n = 24. In addition to the comprehensive treatment of the child, mothers of both groups were given recommendations on the nursing woman’s nutrition. Mothers of children from group 2 were assigned a diagnostic dairy-free diet for a period of 1 month. &#x0D; Results. On the 2nd visit, when analyzing the symptoms of the FGID in group 1, the number of children with symptoms of regurgitation of more than 2 episodes per day decreased by 28% (p &lt; 0.001), crying for more than 3 hours per day — by 52% (p &lt; 0.001). Children of group 2 with a clear positive effect from the diagnostic dairy-free diet therapy of the mother (n = 20) were diagnosed with Allergic and alimentary gastroenteritis and colitis (K52.2 — 10th revision of ICD-10), the continuation of the dairy-free diet for the mother and the supervision of an allergist were prescribed. The survey of women showed that all nursing women were interested in nutrition issues during lactation, 92% of the surveyed mothers searched for this information on the Internet. At the same time, only 12% of women considered this information to be sufficient. Evaluating the presented materials on nutrition, the overwhelming majority of respondents replied that they helped them to adjust their diet and expand nutrition, as well as to maintain breastfeeding.&#x0D; Conclusion. Thus, an integrated approach in the management of FGID infants and gastrointestinal manifestations of food allergies, including the use of nutrition recommendations developed in the National Medical Research Center of Children’s Health for nursing women, allows achieving a positive effect on the side of symptoms both in FGID and CMA patients, and also contributes to the improvement of the psycho-emotional state of a woman and prolonged breastfeeding.

The influence of serotonin on the formation of clinical symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children

The influence of serotonin on the formation of clinical symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children

Development of functional gastrointestinal disorder symptoms following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective cohort study.

The casual relationship between the role of cholecystectomy and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a controversial clinical challenge. This study aimed to investigate: (1) the overlap of FGIDs before cholecystectomy and its long-term outcome after surgery in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis, and (2) the incidence of new-onset FGIDs after cholecystectomy. Patients with symptomatic gallstone disease who underwent elective, laparoscopic cholecystectomy were prospectively enrolled. Healthy populations who underwent medical check-ups were selected as age- and sex-matched controls. Questionnaires regarding sociodemographic characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms and a somatization symptom checklist (SSC) were completed at baseline and 12 months thereafter. The prevalence of all FGID symptoms before cholecystectomy were significantly higher in the group of patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis compared to the control group. In cholecystectomy group, the preoperative FGID symptoms improved after surgery, except for chronic diarrhea. Compared to the controls, the new-onset FGIDs, including functional dyspepsia (14.8% vs. 6.9%; p = 0.040), functional diarrhea (6.6% vs. 0.2%; p < 0.001), and chronic abdominal pain (11.9% vs. 4.4%; p = 0.024), were more common at 1 year after cholecystectomy. Somatization was independent predictors of new-onset dyspepsia and abdominal pain, while newly occurring diarrhea was not realted to somatization. Overlap of FGIDs was common in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis before surgery and at follow-up 1 year after cholecystectomy. Furthermore, new-onset FGIDs could be occurred after cholecystectomy. Therefore, a delicate diagnostic approaches and appropriate treatments about co-existent FGIDs should be given in patients with cholelithiasis before and after cholecystectomy.

Prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (Rome IV Criteria) among a Cohort of New Zealand Children

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are characterised by recurring gastrointestinal symptoms that are not secondary to organic disease. FGIDs may cause reduced quality of life, with approximately 22% of children experiencing at least one FGID. This study aimed to assess FGID prevalence among children attending a tertiary care hospital in New Zealand (NZ). Methods: Children aged ≥ four years were prospectively recruited from Christchurch Hospital, NZ. Data were collected on demographics, medical history, gastrointestinal symptoms (Rome IV), and quality of life (EQ-5D-Y). An analysis was carried out using analysis of variance and the chi-squared test of independence. Results: The cohort included 156 children, with a mean age of 9.5 years (SD 3.3), 56% male. According to the Rome IV criteria, 29% experienced at least one FGID, most commonly functional constipation and functional dyspepsia. FGID symptoms were associated with Māori ethnicity (p = 0.012) and parental FGID (p &lt; 0.001). Quality of life was lower in the FGID group in the domain ‘Feeling worried, sad, or unhappy’ (p = 0.002). Conclusion: the association of FGIDs with worse quality of life, in particular relating to worry and sadness, should highlight the importance of providing support to school age children experiencing FGID symptoms.

Overlapping Symptoms of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Current Challenges and the Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Several functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) have overlapping symptoms, and, consequently, developing treatment strategies based on symptomatology poses a challenge for the clinical management of complex FGIDs. The significant overlap in the symptoms of FGIDs caused by the shared pathophysiological mechanisms is both a challenge and an excellent target for therapeutic development, since treatment strategies focused on shared pathophysiological mechanisms can treat the associated underlying diseases rather than just alleviating the primary symptoms. Owing to its multi-targeted approach, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered immense interest worldwide; however, the quality of the data demonstrating its effectiveness is generally weak. Additionally, the causal link between the intrinsic mechanisms of action of TCM and its clinical benefits remains obscure. Systems biology is characterized by holistic and dynamic research, which corresponds to the holistic, multi-targeted, and syndrome-based approach of TCM. Therefore, high-throughput analysis techniques can be employed to describe and comprehend the genesis and progression of diseases, as well as the impacts of TCM on the organism, which may aid in elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms of the diseases as well as the mechanism of action of TCM.

Neonatal risk factors for functional gastrointestinal disorders in preterm infants in the first year of life.

An assessment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in premature infants in their first year of life and neonatal factors influencing the progression of FGIDs was conducted in this research. Subjects selected for the retrospective study involved preterm infants being hospitalized in the neonatal department of Northern Jiangsu People`s Hospital from September 2018 to September 2021. Data on neonatal risk factors such as gestational age, gender, birth weight, mode of delivery, feeding pattern, antibiotic administration and addition of probiotics, duration of hospitalization, maternal history of smoking, and mental health status, were all collected and analyzed. FGIDs were diagnosed according to Rome IV criteria. This study included 988 preterm infants, with 725 (73.4%) having at least one FGID, 449 (45.4%) with infant colic, 411 (41.6%) with infant regurgitation, 237 (24.0%) with infant dyschezia, 190 (19.2%) with functional constipation, and 34 (3.4%) with functional diarrhea throughout the first year of life. In total, 263 infants (26.6%) without FGID symptoms were included in the control group. Further, a higher prevalence of FGIDs was observed in preterm infants with infant colic as well as infant regurgitation in particular as being characterized by a low gestational age ( < 32 w), low birth weight ( < 1.5 kg), Cesarean section, formula feeding, neonatal antibiotics use, hospitalization longer than 7 days, and maternal history of smoking. It was found from association analyses that infants exclusively breastfed in their first month of life were at lower risk for regurgitation than those in the control group. Unnecessary antibiotic use in the neonatal period, Cesarean delivery, passive smoking, lack of breastfeeding along with inappropriate probiotics usage are major risk factors for FGIDs, and their systematic control may be effective in reducing the susceptibility to and prevalence of FGIDs in preterm infants in the first year of life.

Show Me What You Have Inside-The Complex Interplay between SIBO and Multiple Medical Conditions-A Systematic Review.

The microbiota, as a complex of microorganisms in a particular ecosystem, is part of the wider term-microbiome, which is defined as the set of all genetic content in the microbial community. Imbalanced gut microbiota has a great impact on the homeostasis of the organism. Dysbiosis, as a disturbance in bacterial balance, might trigger or exacerbate the course of different pathologies. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a disorder characterized by differences in quantity, quality, and location of the small intestine microbiota. SIBO underlies symptoms associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) as well as may alter the presentation of chronic diseases such as heart failure, diabetes, etc. In recent years there has been growing interest in the influence of SIBO and its impact on the whole human body as well as individual systems. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the co-existence of SIBO with different medical conditions. The PubMed database was searched up to July 2022 and we found 580 original studies; inclusion and exclusion criteria let us identify 112 eligible articles, which are quoted in this paper. The present SIBO diagnostic methods could be divided into two groups-invasive, the gold standard-small intestine aspirate culture, and non-invasive, breath tests (BT). Over the years scientists have explored SIBO and its associations with other diseases. Its role has been confirmed not only in gastroenterology but also in cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology, and nephrology. Antibiotic therapy could reduce SIBO occurrence resulting not only in the relief of FGD symptoms but also manifestations of comorbid diseases. Although more research is needed, the link between SIBO and other diseases is an important pathway for scientists to follow.

Exploration of "Zhang" in functional gastrointestinal disorders: A cross-cultural challenge in Chinese clinical setting.

In China, four symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders, postprandial fullness, early satiety, bloating, and abdominal distension are commonly and interchangeably expressed as a single chief complaint, "Zhang". In this study we aimed to explore the most efficient method of determining the characteristics of symptoms in such patients. Consecutive patients with the chief complaint of abdominal "Zhang" from December 2017 to June 2018 were included. Their symptom patterns were determined by face-to-face interviews. Patients with a single symptom (postprandial fullness, early satiety, bloating, or abdominal distension) completed the questionnaire assessing their understanding of the symptoms using three methods including concept terms, pictograms, and verbal descriptions. A total of 230 patients (121 men, 109 women; mean age 43.7 ± 12.6y) were included. Verbal descriptions were most applicable to identify patients' symptom patterns, followed by concept terms and pictograms. Early satiety was the most difficult to identify (20.9% agreement between patient's understanding and doctor's diagnosis by using concept term), whereas fullness and bloating had apparently higher recognition (70.7% and 72.1% by concept terms). Elder patients (>60 y) and those with more frequent symptom attacks (≥once daily) showed relatively poorer understanding of the symptoms. Early satiety is poorly identified by patients. Existing pictograms fail to show comprehension-improving features in a Chinese cultural setting. Verbal descriptions may be the best option for diagnosing abdominal "Zhang". More caution is required during the inquiry of medical history from elder patients with frequent symptom attacks.

A Breakthrough Point in Integrative Medical Research: Challenge of Treating Overlapping Symptoms in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common disorders that are characterized by persistent and recurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Many patients with FGIDs have overlapping symptoms, which impaired the quality of life and ability to work of patients, and left a considerable impact on health-care systems and society. Chinese medicines (CMs) are commonly utilized by many patients with FGIDs. This article discusses the current status of diagnosis and treatment of FGIDs, the advantages and characteristics of CM treatment, and how integrated medicine can make a breakthrough in FGIDs diagnosis and treatment.

Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) usually have different abdominal complaints without any organic lesions. The functional cause of these complaints is claimed in most patients. This study aimed to evaluate functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in patients with chronic hepatitis C using Rome IV diagnostic criteria. METHODS: This study included 1506 participants (1006 patients with chronic HCV, and 500 controls). All individuals were subjected to taking thorough medical history, basic investigations (complete blood counts, liver and renal functions tests), international normalized ratio (INR), alpha-fetoprotein, HCV RNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction), abdominal ultrasonography, and upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) endoscopy for patients only), and Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with HCV had symptoms of FGIDs including functional dyspepsia (FD) (P=0.009), early satiety (P=0.002), postprandial distress (P=0.02), epigastric pain (P=0.03), Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) (P<0.001), IBS predominant constipation (P<0.001), IBS predominant diarrhea (P<0.001), and IBS mixed (P<0.001). There were multiple factors for the prediction of FD in patients with HCV, including high body mass index (BMI), education level, positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and fibrosis stage. Also, there were multiple factors for the prediction of IBS in patients with HCV, including male gender, high BMI, urban residence, education level, positive PCR, and fibrosis stage. CONCLUSIONS: FD is a prevalent finding in obese patients with HCV and with higher fibrosis scores. IBS is also prevalent in male patients with HCV.

Is a Non-Caloric Sweetener-Free Diet Good to Treat Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder Symptoms? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A diet containing non-caloric sweeteners (NCS) could reduce calorie intake; conversely, some animal studies suggest that NCS consumption may increase functional gastrointestinal disorder symptoms (FGDs). This study aimed to compare the effect of consuming a diet containing NCS (c-NCS) versus a non-caloric sweetener-free diet (NCS-f) on FGDs. Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled, parallel-group study using two different diets for five weeks: the c-NCS diet contained 50–100 mg/day NCS, whereas the NCS-f diet had less than 10 mg/day NCS. At the beginning of the study (PreTx) and at the end (PostTx), we assessed FGDs, dietary intake, and NCS consumption. Results: The percentage of participants with diarrhea (PreTx = 19% vs. PstTx = 56%; p = 0.02), post-prandial discomfort (PreTx = 9% vs. PstTx = 39%; p = 0.02), constipation (PreTx = 30% vs. PostTx = 56%; p < 0.01), and burning (PreTx = 13% vs. PostTx = 33%; p < 0.01) increased in the c-NCS diet group. Conversely, abdominal pain (PreTx = 15% vs. PostTx = 3%; p = 0.04), post-prandial discomfort (PreTx = 26% vs. PostTx = 6%; p = 0.02), burning (PreTx = 15% vs. PostTx = 0%; p = 0.02), early satiety (PreTx = 18% vs. PostTx = 3%; p < 0.01), and epigastric pain (PreTx = 38% vs. PostTx = 3%; p < 0.01) decreased in the NCS-f diet group. Conclusion: A c-NCS diet is associated with increased FGDs, including diarrhea, post-prandial discomfort, constipation, and burning or retrosternal pain. The NCS-f diet also decreased FGDs, as well as abdominal pain, post-prandial discomfort, burning or retrosternal pain, early satiety, and epigastric pain.

Probiotics and Phytochemicals: Role on Gut Microbiota and Efficacy on Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Dyspepsia, and Functional Constipation

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, and functional dyspepsia, have had a high prevalence over the past few years. Recent evidence suggests that functional foods and bioactive compounds, such as probiotics and phytochemicals, may have a positive effect in treating the symptoms of the above diseases. In this systematic review study, 32 published studies were selected with the use of comprehensive scientific databases, according to PRISMA guidelines, with emphasis on recent interventional studies that reflect the effect of probiotics and selected phytochemicals on the improvement of FGID symptoms. The bioactive compounds in the selected studies were administered to patients either in capsule form or in enriched food products (yogurt, juice, etc.). According to the results, there is a correlation between the consumption of probiotics and phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, and the relief of symptoms in selected gastrointestinal disorders. Enriching foods that are regularly consumed by the population, such as fruit juices, yogurt, and cheese, with ingredients that may have a positive effect on gastrointestinal disorders, could be a possible novel goal for the management of these diseases. However, further evidence is required for the role of probiotics and phytochemicals in FGIDs to be fully understood.

Sex and Gender Differences in Overlap Syndrome of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder and Effect of Genetic Polymorphisms in South Korea: A Long-term Follow-up Study.

Background/AimsOverlap functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is associated with more severe gastrointestinal symptoms and lower quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical features of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, their overlap in terms of sex and gender, and to assess the risk factors, including genetic polymorphisms.MethodsA total of 494 FGIDs and 239 controls were prospectively enrolled between 2004 and 2020. FGIDs were diagnosed based on the Rome III criteria and symptoms were evaluated using a questionnaire. Follow-up questionnaires were conducted to determine the change of symptoms during the 75.8-month mean observation period. Risk factors including genetic polymorphisms in neurotransmitter receptor (SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR, GNB3, ADRA2A, CCKAR, and TRPV1) and cytokine (TNFA and IL10) genes.ResultsNERD was more prevalent in men, and functional dyspepsia in women. Overlap FGIDs (n = 239) were more prevalent than non-overlap FGIDs (n = 255) in women (P = 0.019). Anxiety and depression scores were higher in the overlaps (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively). Symptoms were more frequent and severe in the overlap FGIDs than in the non-overlaps (P < 0.001). During follow-up, symptoms progressed more frequently in the overlap FGIDs, especially in patients with the L/S genotype of SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR and anxiety/depression.ConclusionsOverlap FGID patients need attention given their association with anxiety/depression and more severe symptoms, especially in women. Genetic polymorphisms also may be associated with certain symptoms of overlap FGIDs.

The effect of the vitamin D and calcium on the quality of life of infants

Background. Relevant in pediatrics is the use of indicators of quality of life of children to personify the treatment process, monitoring the course of the disease. In recent years, there has been increasing research on the role of vitamin D and calcium in the human body. The study was aimed to assess the quality of life of infants and to establish the possibility of medical correction of the main indicators of quality of life under the influence of the combined use of vitamin D and calcium. Materials and methods. We observed 30 clinically healthy infants who received 2.5 ml of vitamin D and calcium 3 times a day for 2 months. We have created our questionnaire on the quality of life of infants. Methods of variation statistics are used. Results. Based on the correlation analysis in infants before treatment, there was found a positive relationship between quality of life and the state of biological resistance (r = +0.51; p &lt; 0.05); natural feeding (r = +0.56; p &lt; 0.05); symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (r = +0.58; p &lt; 0.05); parameters of emotional status (r = +0.62; p &lt; 0.05); signs of autonomic dysfunction syndrome (r = +0.63; p &lt; 0.05); neuropsychological development (r = +0.65; p &lt; 0.05); features of adaptability (r = +0.66; p &lt; 0.05). The results of the treatment with vitamin D and calcium in the study of the correlation diagram of the relationship between quality of life and the established indicators of the development of infants demonstrated no correlation between the quality of life and symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders and symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. After treatment, there was a decrease in the strength of the correlation between the quality of life of infants and the parameters of emotional status (r = +0.36; p &lt; 0.05); indicators of neuropsychological development (r = +0.35; p &lt; 0.05), and ability to adapt (r = +0.44; p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions. The сombined use of vitamin D and calcium in the recommended dose of 2.5 ml 3 times a day for 2 months is characterized by a high safety profile, improves the quality of life of a child, and can be recommended for infants.