Belgian researchers investigated the potential for probiotic microorganisms to cause beneficial changes in the balance of intestinal microflora and improved digestion. This clinical trial in 20 healthy human volunteers investigated how probiotics could alter the metabolism of proteins. Protein fermentation by bacteria in the gut can cause not only gas and bloating, but can damage epithelial (lining) cells resulting in inflammation, and could lead to irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer or kidney failure.

The results of this study indicate that probiotics can reduce this harmful proteolytic fermentation in the gut and the formation of toxic metabolites.

Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 292: G358-G368, 2007. First published September 21, 2006

An example of how probiotics can help to digest difficult foods, research in France investigated digestion of soy products, which present digestive difficulties because of their content of alpha-galacto-oligosaccharides. Because mammals lack the enzyme to digest these, they enter the large intestine, where gas producing bacteria ferment them. In this research, Lactobacillus fermentum was administered to rats along with soy milk. This produced a 50% reduction in hydrogen gas emission, demonstrating that the probiotic remained active in the body and produced the desired effect.

The authors conclude

“these results strongly suggest that Lactobacillus fermentum alpha-galactosidase is able to partially alleviate a galactosidase deficiency in rats. This offers interesting perspectives in various applications in which lactic acid bacteria could be used as a vector for delivery of digestive enzymes in man and animals.”

BMC Microbiol. 2008 Jan 29;8:22.

Research conducted in India and reported in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition demonstrates that some common spices or their active principles could influence digestive enzymes in a positive way.

Dietary curcumin, capsaicin, piperine and ginger prominantly enhanced intestinal lipase activity and also the disaccharidases sucrase and maltase. Dietary cumin, fenugreek, mustard and asafoetida brought about decreases in the levels of phosphatases and sucrase. The positive influences of a good number of spices on these terminal enzymes of digestive process could be an additional feature of spices that are generally well recognized to stimulate digestion.

The animals were fed the following diets for 8 weeks: control, curcumin (0.5%), capsaicin (15mg%), piperine (20mg%), ginger (50mg%), cumin (1.25%), fenugreek (2%), mustard (250mg%) and asafoetida (250mg%).

International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Volume 47, Issue 1 January 1996 , pages 55 – 59
Influence of dietary spices or their active principles on digestive enzymes of small intestinal mucosa in rats
Authors: Kalpana Platel ; K. Srinivasan
Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India

Buried deep within an article in American Family Physician is a note of some of the foods that can decrease the lower esophageal sphincter, thereby reducing gastroesophageal reflux. Among the listed foods are carminitives, such as peppermint and spearmint, and chocolate. One of the drugs listed as having this effect is theophylline, a caffeine related alkaloid in found in tea.

Prokinetic therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. (includes patient information sheet) Read the rest of this entry »

American Family Physician takes a look at peppermint oil and concludes is “safe at proper dosages and moderately effective in patients with functional gastrointestinal conditions.”

The authors note that peppermint leaf and peppermint oil have both a long history of use and recent evidence supporting its benefits. Read the rest of this entry »

According to an article in Phytomedicine, functional gastrointestinal diseases represent a considerable socio-oeconomic problem, with complaints occurring in about 20-30% of the general population (Fuchs and Ritter, 1996).

The chronic and chronically recurring symptoms mostly require treatment for many years. Therefore, medical treatment should not only be effective, tolerable and safe, but also cost-effective.

Researchers found a combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil effective, as demonstrated by at least nine clinical trials. Read the rest of this entry »

Nine studies involving 269 healthy subjects or patients confirmed the antispasmodic a fact of peppermint oil and gastrointestinal smooth muscle. “There is reasonable evidence that PO exerts a spasmolytic effect on the smooth vasculature of the intestinal tract. The duration of effect is limited to approximately 20 min.” The authors suggest that enteric coated peppermint oil can extend the duration of action and reduce side effects. Read the rest of this entry »

A 2005 article in the journal Phytomedicine reviews 16 clinical trials that studied the effect of 180 200 mg of peppermint oil in irritable bowel syndrome or recurrent abdominal pain in children. Nine of the 16 studies were randomized double-blind crossover trials, five had a randomized double-blind parallel group design and two were open labeled studies. Eight of the 12 placebo-controlled studies show statistically significant effects of peppermint oil.

“Average response rates in terms of “overall success” are 58% (range
39-79%) for PO and 29% (range 10-52%) for placebo. The three studies
versus smooth muscle relaxants did not show differences between
treatments hinting for equivalence of treatments. Adverse events
reported were generally mild and transient, but very specific. PO
caused the typical GI effects like heartburn and anal/perianal burning
or discomfort sensations, whereas the anticholinergics caused dry mouth
and blurred vision. Anticholinergics and 5HT3/4-ant/agonists do not
offer superior improvement rates, placebo responses cover the range as
in PO trials. Taking into account the currently available drug
treatments for IBS PO (1-2 capsules t.i.d. over 2-4 weeks) may be the
drug of first choice in IBS patients with non-serious constipation or
diarrhea to alleviate general symptoms and to improve quality of life.” Read the rest of this entry »

Peppermint oil has been extensively researched for its effect on the
digestive system. An article in Phytomedicine details the
pharmacodynamics the fact on the gastrointestinal tract as an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle. The authors describe the metabolism and elimination of menthol and peppermint oil.

“The principal pharmacodynamic effect of peppermint oil relevant to the
gastrointestinal tract is a dose-related antispasmodic effect on the
smooth musculaturedue to the interference of menthol with the movement of calcium across
the cell membrane. The choleretic and antifoaming effects of peppermint
oil may play an additional role in medicinal use.”

“Peppermint oil is relatively rapidly absorbed after oral administration
and eliminated mainly via the bile. The major biliary metabolite is
menthol glucuronide, which undergoes enterohepatic circulation. The
urinary metabolites result from hydroxylation at the C-7 methyl group
at C-8 and C-9 of the isopropyl moiety, forming a series of mono- and
dihydroxymenthols and carboxylic acids, some of which are excreted in
part as glucuronic acid conjugates. Studies with tritiated I-menthol in
rats indicated about equal excretion in feces and urine. The main
metabolite indentified was menthol-glucuronide. Additional metabolites
are mono- or di-hydroxylated menthol derivatives.” Read the rest of this entry »

New research from Korea shows that EGCG selectively suppressed keloid fibroblast proliferation and migration compared to its effect on normal fibroblast proliferation and migration. Keloids are common benign skin tumors, characterized by collagen accumulation and hyperproliferation of fibroblasts. Read the rest of this entry »