Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Of the 164 study participants, those who supplemented with 400 mg of berberine daily for 8 weeks, saw a significant reduction in diarrhea frequency and abdominal pain as well as a significant improvement in Quality of Life scores.

digestive healthAn estimated 14.1% of Americans suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, with only about 3.3% being medically diagnosed (2). Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is known to reduce the person’s quality of life and make activities of daily living challenging (1). Recent research has found that supplementing with berberine, a traditional Chinese medicine for diarrhea, can improve symptoms and increase the quality of life for IBS sufferers (1).

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the gastrointestinal system in which patients experience abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, with either predominantly diarrhea (IBS-D), constipation (IBS-C) or both (IBS-M) (3). IBS often is misdiagnosed and the cause is still poorly understood (3).

The research study included 164 participants (18-65 years of age) with IBS-D who were randomly assigned to either berberine hydrochloride (200mg twice daily; 400mg total; n=82) or a placebo (n=82) for 8 weeks. The supplementation period was followed by a 4-week period with no supplementation. Participants recorded symptoms daily and were followed up by researchers weekly (1).

After 8 weeks, diarrhea frequency was significantly reduced in patients taking berberine compared to baseline (P<0.01). After the 4 weeks without berberine, the diarrhea frequency increased compared with week 8 (P<0.05). There was no change in the placebo group (1).

Berberine supplementation led to significant reduction of the urgent need for frequent bowel movements, starting at week 4 (P<0.01) and continuing through week 8 (P<0.001). There was no change in the placebo group (1).

Abdominal pain was reduced in both groups, but was a more significant (P<0.01) in the berberine group. On week 8, abdominal pain decreased by 64.6% in the berberine group compared to 29.4% in the placebo group (1).

Quality of life scores (IBS special scale for quality of life) also improved significantly in the berberine group (P<0.05) compared to the placebo group, which had no change (1).

In conclusion, berberine supplementation improved symptoms of IBS-D and the quality of life. Researchers feel it is a promising new option to improve symptoms of discomfort for IBS-D sufferers, but future research still needs to confirm the study results (1).

Source: Pingali U. Effect of standardized aqueous extract of Withania somnifera on tests of cognitive and psychomotor performance in healthy human participants. Pharmacognosy Res 2014 Jan;6(1):12-8. doi: 10.4103/0974-8490.122912.

© Pharmacognosy Research

Posted September 29, 2016.

Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health.  She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at: www.awarenesswellness.com.

References:

  1. Chen C, et al. A Randomized Clinical Trial of Berberine Hydrochloride in Patients with Diarrhea-Predominate Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Phytother. Res. 29:1822-27. (2015)
  2. Hungin APS, et al. Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the United States: Prevalence, Symptom Patterns and Impact. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005; 21(11):1365-75.
  3. Canavan C, et al. The epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome. Clin Epidemiol. 2014; 6:71-81.