Boswellia Serrata Extract Helps Improve Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

by | Dec 9, 2019 | 2019, Boswellia, Digestive Health, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer.  This study suggests that Casperome® supplementation is an effective and safe alternative approach to manage symptoms associated with IBS in otherwise healthy subjects.

digestive health - IBSIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects almost a quarter of the human population 1. Research has uncovered various factors that may be involved in the development of IBS, including altered microbiota, mucosal inflammation, and changes in the cross-communication between the gut and brain 2,3. More recent developments in targeted treatment for IBS have focused on inhibiting intestinal motility and mucosal permeability 4,5. Studies in both animal and human subjects have shown that similar effects are achievable with Boswellia serrata, an herbal extract used in Asian and African medicine known for its anti-inflammatory properties 6,7. Casperome® is a lecithin-based delivery form of standardized boswellia extract, which in previous research, has demonstrated effective amelioration of symptoms associated with Crohn disease and mild ulcerative colitis 8. This form of boswellia extract is particularly noted for its ability to increase the bioavailability of boswellic acids 9. In a 2019 study 10 from the University of Genoa, researchers in Italy tested the long-term safety and efficacy of Casperome® in the prevention of mild IBS.

A total of 69 patients (mean age = 45.1 years) with mild IBS were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial in which they were assigned either to standard management (SM, involving dietary changes plus pharmacological treatment, if necessary) or treatment with Casperome® (250 mg/day, in addition to dietary changes) for 6 months. Rescue medication was offered when symptoms failed to show significant improvement. At baseline, Month 3, and Month 6, IBS symptoms were evaluated using a 4-point Likert scale. Patients also underwent ultrasound examination to test for signs of bowel obstruction.

At 6-month follow-up, subjects in the boswellia group showed significantly lower mean scores on all self-assessed IBS symptoms (recurrent abdominal pain, abdominal pain at pressure, altered bowel movements, meteorism, and spontaneous cramps), compared to the SM group (p < 0.05 for all). Relative to SM, the boswellia groups also showed significantly lower need for rescue medication and lower rates of hospital consultations/admissions (p < 0.05 for all) at Month 6. Ultrasound tests revealed evidence of significantly greater air plus peristalsis and loops dilation (indicators of bowel obstruction) in the SM group vs. the boswellia group (58.82% vs. 17.14%, p < 0.05). Reports of adverse events (mainly constipation) were also statistically lower in the Boswellia than in the SM group (3 vs. 13, p < 0.05) at 6-month follow-up.

The present investigation provides initial evidence supporting the longer-term efficacy of Casperome® in improving symptoms of mild IBS. Results corroborate and extend previous findings linking Casperome® to the attenuation of predominant IBS symptoms after just 4 weeks, suggesting that, over a longer time period, a lecithin-based delivery form of boswellic acids can effectively improve self-report measures of IBS and reduce the need for medical intervention. Boswellia supplementation in the current study was also associated with fewer signs of bowel obstruction, based on ultrasound tests. Thus, Casperome® appears to be a promising adjunct to standard treatment strategies for IBS. Further work is needed to elucidate the mechanisms associated with the therapeutic actions of Casperome® and to examine if and how supplementation might affect the gut microbiome. A limitation of the current study relates to its inability to exclusively attribute the observed clinical outcomes to boswellia intake. Since both groups were instructed to also undergo a dietary intervention, it would be helpful in the future to distinguish the effects of Casperome® supplementation from general dietary improvements on IBS symptomology.

Source: Riva A, Giacomelli L, Togni S, et al. Oral administration of a lecithin-based delivery form of boswellic acids (Casperome®) for the prevention of symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized clinical study. Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica. 2019; 65(1): 30-35. DOI: 10.23736/S1121-42X.18.02530-8. 

© 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA INERVAINERVA MEDICA

Posted December 9, 2019.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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