Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improves quality of life in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering from concomitant dyspepsia: a subset analysis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Does artichoke leaf extract (ALE) ameliorate symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering concomitant dyspepsia?

METHODS:

A subset analysis of a previous dose-ranging, open, postal study, in adults suffering dyspepsia. Two hundred and eight (208) adults were identified post hoc as suffering with IBS. IBS incidence, self-reported usual bowel pattern, and the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) were compared before and after a 2-month intervention period.

RESULTS:

There was a significant fall in IBS incidence of 26.4% (p < 0.001) after treatment. A significant shift in self-reported usual bowel pattern away from "alternating constipation/diarrhea" toward "normal" (p < 0.001) was observed. NDI total symptom score significantly decreased by 41% (p < 0.001) after treatment. Similarly, there was a significant 20% improvement in the NDI total quality-of-life (QOL) score in the subset after treatment.

CONCLUSION:

This report supports previous findings that ALE ameliorates symptoms of IBS, plus improves health-related QOL.

• Authors: Rafe Bundy, Ann F Walker, Richard W Middleton, Georgios Marakis, Jonathan C L Booth
• Journal: Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (J Altern Complement Med) Vol. 10 Issue 4 Pg. 667-9 (Aug 2004) ISSN: 1075-5535 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15353023 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cholagogues and Choleretics
• Plant Extracts

Topics

• Adult
• Cholagogues and Choleretics (administration & dosage)
• Cynara scolymus
• Dyspepsia (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Female
• Humans
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Male
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage)
• Plant Leaves
• Quality of Life
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Severity of Illness Index
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome