Several supplements have been studied and supported by strong evidence for the relief of certain IBS symptoms. Enteric-coated peppermint oil can reduce abdominal pain, and certain probiotic strains are effective for multi-symptom relief.[1][2] Polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate — an over-the-counter intestinal adsorbent — may also relieve multiple IBS symptoms.[3] One study has shown that glutamine supplementation may improve the symptoms of post-infectious IBS.[4] Prebiotics (carbohydrates used preferentially by beneficial gut microbes) aren’t clearly effective, however, and the benefits of other alternatives like traditional Chinese medicinal herbs or aloe vera need to be confirmed in higher-quality studies.[5]
References
- ^Alammar N, Wang L, Saberi B, Nanavati J, Holtmann G, Shinohara RT, Mullin GEThe impact of peppermint oil on the irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis of the pooled clinical dataBMC Complement Altern Med.(2019 Jan 17)
- ^Ford AC, Harris LA, Lacy BE, Quigley EMM, Moayyedi PSystematic review with meta-analysis: the efficacy of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and antibiotics in irritable bowel syndromeAliment Pharmacol Ther.(2018 Nov)
- ^Howell CA, Kemppinen A, Allgar V, Dodd M, Knowles CH, McLaughlin J, Pandya P, Whorwell P, Markaryan E, Yiannakou YDouble-blinded randomised placebo controlled trial of enterosgel (polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate) for the treatment of IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D).Gut.(2022-Dec)
- ^Zhou Q, Verne ML, Fields JZ, Lefante JJ, Basra S, Salameh H, Verne GNRandomised placebo-controlled trial of dietary glutamine supplements for postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.Gut.(2019-Jun)
- ^Billings W, Mathur K, Craven HJ, Xu H, Shin APotential Benefit With Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.(2021-08)