curcumin and Constipation

Tube feeding (TF) is the most common form of nutrition support. In recent years, TF administration has increased among patient populations within and outside hospital settings, in part due to greater insurance coverage, reduced use of parenteral nutrition, and improved formularies suitable for sole source nutrition. With increasing life expectancy and improved access to TFs, the number of adults dependent on enteral nutrition is expected to grow. However, enteral TF intolerance (ETFI) is the most common complication of TFs, typically presenting with at least 1 adverse gastrointestinal event, including nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. ETFI often leads to reductions in TF volume with associated energy and protein deficits. Potentially ensuing malnutrition is a major public health concern due its effects on increased risk of morbidity and mortality, infections, prolonged hospital length of stay, and higher healthcare costs. As such, there is a need for intervention strategies to prevent and reduce ETFI. Incorporating whole foods with bioactive properties is a promising strategy. Emerging research has elucidated bioactive properties of whole foods with specific benefits for the prevention and management of adverse gastrointestinal events commonly associated with TFs. However, lack of evidence-based recommendations and technological challenges have limited the use of such foods in commercial TF formulas. This review addresses research gaps by discussing 5 whole foods (rhubarb, banana, curcumin, peppermint oil, and ginger) with bioactive attributes identified through literature searches and clinical experience as having substantial scientific rationale to consider their application for ETFI in adult populations.

Topics: Adult; Constipation; Curcumin; Diarrhea; Enteral Nutrition; Food, Formulated; Humans; Malnutrition; Mentha piperita; Musa; Nausea; Plant Oils; Plants, Edible; Rheum; Zingiber officinale

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with decrease in quality of life and a high social cost. Diet is one of several therapeutic options in IBS treatment; therefore the development and clinical evaluation of innovative functional food for IBS patients is useful. Dry jelly concentrate containing 3 g inulin, 10 mg curcumin and 1.8 mg of pyridoxine was developed and clinically evaluated. Fifty patients fulfilling the Rome III criteria for IBS-C were randomly assigned into two groups: one received standard diet plus two jelly drinks a day for 2 weeks and control group received standard diet. Response to therapy was recorded on a daily basis using Likert scale of abdominal pain, bloating and feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, frequency of bowel movement, Bristol stool scale, and quality of life assessed by IBSQoL questionnaire before and after the treatment. Intake of functional food product (jelly) containing inulin and curcumin is associated with a significant positive effect on the stool parameters (from 0.6±0.24 to 1.15±0.65 t/d in stool frequency, p=0.001, from 2.62±1.23 to 3.99±1.27, index Bristol scale, p=0.001), a reduce of the severity of abdominal pain (from 1.69±0.71 to 1.36±0.44 Likert scale points, p=0.001), bloating (from 2.03±0.89 to 1.55±0.81 points of Likert scale, p=0.02) and a sense of incomplete bowel emptying (from 2.25±0.98 to 1.68±0.92 points of Likert scale, p=0.001), as well as an increase in quality of life (from 64.5±13.5 to 81.2±9.1%, р=0.05). Patients in control group have improvement in abdominal pain (from 2.16±0.58 to 1.8±0.61 Likert scale points, p=0.05) and bloating (from 2.42±0.83 to 2.16±0.71 Likert scale points, p=0.05) only. During the treatment period no significant adverse events were found. These results indicate that jelly concentrate containing inulin, curcumin and pyridoxine improves abdominal pain score, Bristol scale index and quality of life in patients with IBS-C.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Beverages; Constipation; Curcumin; Dietary Fiber; Female; Humans; Inulin; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Male; Middle Aged; Pyridoxine; Vitamins