2022 Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine

Acupuncture combined with moxibustion showed the best outcomes in terms of efficacy and quality of life improvement for adults with irritable bowel syndrome complicated with diarrhea.

The study was conducted by searching major databases, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and database from China, for randomized controlled trials. These trials explored the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome complicated with diarrhea. The selected studies underwent a rigorous bias assessment and their data were analyzed using Stata 16.0 statistical software.

The analysis encompassed 21 studies overall, considering 1626 patients undergoing 8 different therapeutic measures. The study found that treatments such as acupuncture, warming needle moxibustion, and a combination of acupuncture with sandwiched or heat-sensitive moxibustion revealed significantly improved outcomes when compared to the drug pinaverium bromide. On the other hand, pinaverium bromide demonstrated the lowest efficacy and effect on quality of life. The most frequently used acupuncture points were GV20, GV29, ST 25, ST37, ST36, SP6, LR3, and CV12.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Adult Diarrhea Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Network Meta-analysis Jiang X, Guo X, Zhou J, Ye S

2022 Food Research International

Pu-erh tea and its ingredient theabrownin improve liver, jejunum, and adipose tissue functions in metabolic syndrome mice, modulating circadian rhythm, glycerophospholipid, and linoleic acid metabolism.

In this study, varied technological applications such as metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics were utilized to explore the anti-metabolic syndrome mechanism of Pu-erh tea and theabrownin in mice with metabolic syndrome. These scientific technologies allowed the researchers to understand and explore improvements in the physiological functions of liver, jejunum, and adipose tissues in the metabolic syndrome mice as a result of Pu-erh tea and theabrownin interventions. The investigation also focused on changes to the hepatic transcriptome, revealing that both of these interventions had the capacity to regulate the circadian rhythm pathway.

The results showcased that both interventions succeeded in the modulation of glycerophospholipid and linoleic acid metabolism, this was established through a comprehensive analysis of serum and brain metabolome. Further analysis of faecal metagenome demonstrated an increase in the relative abundance of certain bacterium and a decrease in others due to both interventions. However, in comparison to Pu-erh tea, theabrownin exhibited a more pronounced influence as regards upregulating hepatic antioxidants and downregulating hepatic inflammatory factors, although there was only a slight reduction in obesity-linked short-chain fatty acids in faeces of the metabolic syndrome mice. Overall, the experiment provided essential insights into the various ways these two elements function and provide treatment for metabolic syndrome.

Pu-erh tea and theabrownin ameliorate metabolic syndrome in mice via potential microbiota-gut-liver-brain interactions Hou Y, Zhang Z, Cui Y, Peng C, Fan Y, Tan C, Wang Q, Liu Z, Gong J

2022 Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine

Acupuncture combined with moxibustion showed the best outcomes in terms of efficacy and quality of life improvement for adults with irritable bowel syndrome complicated with diarrhea.

The study was conducted by searching major databases, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and database from China, for randomized controlled trials. These trials explored the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome complicated with diarrhea. The selected studies underwent a rigorous bias assessment and their data were analyzed using Stata 16.0 statistical software.

The analysis encompassed 21 studies overall, considering 1626 patients undergoing 8 different therapeutic measures. The study found that treatments such as acupuncture, warming needle moxibustion, and a combination of acupuncture with sandwiched or heat-sensitive moxibustion revealed significantly improved outcomes when compared to the drug pinaverium bromide. On the other hand, pinaverium bromide demonstrated the lowest efficacy and effect on quality of life. The most frequently used acupuncture points were GV20, GV29, ST 25, ST37, ST36, SP6, LR3, and CV12.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Adult Diarrhea Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Network Meta-analysis Jiang X, Guo X, Zhou J, Ye S

2022 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Goji berries, notably their polysaccharides, exhibit protective effects against inflammatory bowel disease through the preservation of healthy gut microbiota.

The review encompassed an in-depth analysis of current literature specially focusing on the role of goji berry and its important functional constituents in countering Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The core attentiveness of the research is directed towards understanding the interplay between goji berries, particularly their polysaccharides, and gut microbiota. The goji berries’ protective effects were evaluated, focusing on how they curb disruption in gut microbiota, a common facet in IBD.

The review concluded that goji berries, especially their polysaccharides, demonstrated appreciable benefits in averting gut microbiota disturbances seen with IBD, thus protecting against this condition. These natural substances, present in goji berries, function as prebiotics, which maintain a balanced gut microbial ecosystem. The research further revealed that proper functioning of gut microbiota and their metabolites was a crucial element in mediating these beneficial effects against IBD, thus cementing the role of dietary interventions in managing diseases linked with gut health.

Prebiotic effects of goji berry in protection against inflammatory bowel disease Sun Q, Du M, Kang Y, Zhu MJ

2022 Advances in Nutrition

Consuming kiwifruit, particularly the green variety, can effectively alleviate upper gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal discomfort, pain, and indigestion.

The research undertook a systematic scoping review of three electronic databases from 1947 until January 2021. The team searched for clinical trials that investigated the effects of either green or gold kiwifruit or their compounds on upper gastrointestinal symptoms. They focused on the studies that had the symptom relief as secondary outcomes in healthy participants or those with functional constipation or irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. The outcomes were analyzed based on the type of measurement tools used; one being the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the others being non-GSRS methods.

The analysis unveiled that out of the identified 12 clinical trials, with a total of 661 participants, only five used the GSRS to assess symptom relief. Green kiwifruit showed notable results in reducing abdominal discomfort and pain. Kiwifruit consumption, in general, appeared to diminish indigestion. While the number of studies reporting on symptom relief using a comparable measurement was limited, the evidence for kiwifruit's positive efficacy on gastrointestinal symptom relief remained consistent.

Habitual Green Kiwifruit Consumption Is Associated with a Reduction in Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Systematic Scoping Review Bayer SB, Frampton CM, Gearry RB, Barbara G

2021 Frontiers in Public Health

Traditional Chinese medicine infant massage can reduce the symptoms of constipation in children suffering from functional constipation.

A review of 23 studies involving 2,005 patients found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) infant massage was more effective than drug therapy alone for treating infant functional constipation. The massage showed significant improvements in overall effectiveness, frequency of bowel movements, and constipation symptoms. However, there was no significant difference between the massage and drug therapy when it came to stool form and difficulty of defecation. The variations in results may be due to factors like patient conditions, different massage techniques, the effectiveness of drugs used in the control group, and variations in criteria for measuring effectiveness. The study did not detect any publication bias.

Clinical Efficacy of Infantile Massage in the Treatment of Infant Functional Constipation: A Meta-Analysis Zhi Liu, Li Gang, Ma Yunwei, Ling Lin

2021 Nutrients

Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of nut RCTs showed that almonds were the only nut that had a small but significant decrease in both mean body mass and fat mass, compared to control diets.

The biological mechanisms for almond weight control include enhanced displacement of other foods, decreased macronutrient bioavailability for a lower net metabolizable energy (ME), upregulation of acute signals for reduced hunger, and elevated satiety and increased resting energy expenditure.

A Comprehensive Review of Almond Clinical Trials on Weight Measures, Metabolic Health Biomarkers and Outcomes, and the Gut Microbiota Dreher ML

2021 Nutrients

Almonds can support colonic microbiota health by promoting microflora richness and diversity, increasing the ratio of symbiotic to pathogenic microflora, and concentrations of health-promoting colonic bioactives.

This narrative review of 64 RCTs and 14 meta-analyses and/or systematic reviews presents a more in-depth analysis of almond clinical trials and their effects on weight measures, metabolic health biomarkers and outcomes, and colonic microbiota health than typically described in systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses. Almonds have one of the largest portfolios of RCTs on weight measures, metabolic health, and colonic microbiota of any food. These RCTs consistently support an important role for almonds in reducing body and fat mass, other weight measures, and promoting metabolic health as a premier snack for precision nutrition diets

A Comprehensive Review of Almond Clinical Trials on Weight Measures, Metabolic Health Biomarkers and Outcomes, and the Gut Microbiota Dreher ML

2020 Nutrients

Cocoa polyphenols promote gut health by favorably altering gut microbiota composition and producing secondary bioactive metabolites with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The study revolves around observing the effects of dietary intake of cocoa polyphenols, bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, on gut microbiota. These polyphenols have poor absorption in the gut and hence, rarely enter the systemic circulation in their natural forms. Instead, through a bidirectional interaction with the gut microbiota, they stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the growth of harmful ones, thereby acting as a prebiotic.

The resulting metabolites from this interaction are bioavailable, and these enter the circulation to reach target organs. The metabolites exhibit substantial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which improve gut health. These actions augment immunity and reduce the risk of many diseases, documenting a notable health-protective potential of cocoa polyphenols, routed via modulation of gut microbiota composition.

Cocoa Polyphenols and Gut Microbiota Interplay: Bioavailability, Prebiotic Effect, and Impact on Human Health Sorrenti V, Ali S, Mancin L, Davinelli S, Paoli A, Scapagnini G

2020 Journal of Functional Foods

Jujube fruits contain a high amount of various bioactive compounds exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anti-cardiovascular disease, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-microbial, anticancer, and gastrointestinal-protective effects.

The scientific evidence has shown that jujube fruits contain a high amount of various bioactive compounds, including ascorbic acid, triterpenic acids, phenolic acids, amino acids, saponins, cerebrosides, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and mineral constituents. These phytoconstituents play important roles to suppress different diseases, exerting the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anti-cardiovascular disease, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-microbial, anticancer, and gastrointestinal-protective effects.

Jujube fruit: A potential nutritious fruit for the development of functional food products Rashwan, A. K, Karim, N., Shishir, M. Rezaul Islam, Bao, T., Lu, Y., & Chen, W.

2020 Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Goji berry polysaccharide can enhance intestinal microbiota and beneficial bacteria levels, whilst modulating the innate immune response.

The study used both in vitro and in vivo methodologies to evaluate the prebiotic effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), and its potential impact on the composition of fecal microbiota and the innate immune response. In vitro studies showed that LBP supported the growth of selective probiotic bacteria. For the in vivo portion of the study, mice were given LBP, and subsequent alterations in their fecal microbiota were observed.

The results demonstrated that the administration of LBP significantly increased the abundance of certain beneficial bacteria within the mice's intestinal microbiota. Specifically, the presence of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were enhanced, while the ratio of Bacteroidetes was reduced. At the genus level, the presence of potentially probiotic genera like Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Prevotellaceae increased. It was also observed that the concentrations of TGF-β and IL-6 in serum and sIgA in colon content significantly heightened. The study also noted a significant difference in the thymus and spleen indices of mice treated with LBP when compared to a control group.

Prebiotic, immuno-stimulating and gut microbiota-modulating effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide Zhu W, Zhou S, Liu J, McLean RJC, Chu W

2020 Nutrients

Ganpu tea, derived from Pu-erh tea and the pericarp of Chachi, enhances antioxidant capacities and modulates gut microbiota beneficially more than Pu-erh tea alone.

A thorough chemical analysis was conducted on hot-water extracts of Ganpu tea using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, which identified a total of 92 constituents. Considering the antioxidant properties of Ganpu tea, an experiment was designed and carried out where rats were fed with Ganpu tea over a long period. The same experiment was done using Pu-erh tea and the pericarp of Chachi separately, allowing for comparisons of antioxidant capacities between them and Ganpu tea.

The results showed that Ganpu tea had a substantial impact on improving the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, both essential antioxidants, more than Pu-erh tea. This indicated a superior antioxidant capacity of Ganpu tea. Further, it significantly increased the abundance of specific gut bacteria, offering a suggestion of the potential benefits of Ganpu tea in human gut microbiota modulation. The results underscore the health benefits of Ganpu tea in enhancing antioxidant activities and promoting beneficial gut microbiota.

Chemical Profile, Antioxidative, and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Properties of Ganpu Tea: A Derivative of Pu-erh Tea Zheng Y, Zeng X, Chen T, Peng W, Su W

2020 Nutrients

Magnesium sulfate-rich natural mineral waters are effective and safe as a natural treatment for functional constipation.

This paper reviews clinical data on the efficacy of magnesium sulfate-rich natural mineral waters in treating functional constipation (FC), a chronic type of constipation with no identifiable physiological, anatomical, or iatrogenic causes. The condition is known to significantly affect patients’ quality of life and increase healthcare costs. The study examines the historical use of magnesium sulfate in treating FC and its longstanding recognition for laxative properties, especially in the context of magnesium sulfate-rich mineral waters.

The review highlights that, despite the long history of using magnesium sulfate-rich mineral waters for their laxative effects, clinical studies specifically demonstrating their effectiveness in FC were scarce before the 21st century. The collected data indicate that these mineral waters are not only effective in treating FC but also safe, positioning them as a viable natural treatment option for this condition.

Magnesium Sulfate-Rich Natural Mineral Waters in the Treatment of Functional Constipation–A Review Dupont C, Hébert G

2020 Frontiers in Pharmacology

Chinese medicine herb Bai Zhu might combat chronic gastritis by influencing inflammatory response, amino acid synthesis and energy metabolism.

Methodology: Network pharmacology was employed to study the active ingredients, drug targets, and critical pathways of AMK in treating chronic gastritis. Initially, four databases were scoured to single out 77 candidate ingredients of AMK, reducing that to 27 active ingredients identified for CG treatment. Furthermore, 25 overlapping gene symbols linked to CG and drugs were procured from GeneCards and OMIM databases. The construction of a protein-protein interaction network and TCM comprehensive network followed this, resulting in 528 Gene Ontology terms and 26 pathways obtained through GO pathways and KEGG pathways enrichment analyses.

Results: The investigation focused on the interleukin-17 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications as crucial points and leading pathways for treating chronic gastritis. The study suggests that AMK potentially impacts the inflammatory response, amino acid synthesis, and energy metabolism. These influential active ingredients and targets have been experimentally validated for reliability, offering new insights into the systematic exploration of the traditional Chinese medicine mechanism of action.

Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate the Pharmacologic Mechanisms of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. for the Treatment of Chronic Gastritis Yang S, Zhang J, Yan Y, Yang M, Li C, Li J, Zhong L, Gong Q, Yu H

2020 Nutrients

Ginger has been effective in a majority of studies, including those that examined the alleviation of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, digestive function, improvement in the expression level of markers for colorectal cancer risk, and anti-inflammatory functions.

Ginger is a natural spice that is used in diverse regions to add a pungent flavor to food. Furthermore, ginger has been used as an herbal medicine for common health problems. This systematic review is the first study that has exclusively collected RCTs regarding the efficiency of ginger in several human health conditions. The clinical effects of ginger have been introduced as six subsections: nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal function, pain, inflammation, metabolic syndromes, and other symptoms. Reportedly, ginger has been effective in a majority of studies, including those that examined the alleviation of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, digestive function, improvement in the expression level of markers for colorectal cancer risk, and anti-inflammatory functions. Several other functions have also been regarded as beneficial in trials, with some confronting results. However, a few drawbacks regarding the quality of the trials, inconsistent evaluation systems or parameters, and the generally small size of the studies need to be noted. Therefore, systematically designed research with detailed descriptions of methodology and a sufficient pool of participants is necessary for future clinical trials to address the functional characteristics of ginger.

Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, Min JE, Yoon YC, Lee EG, Kim M, Kim TJ, Yang YY, Son EY, Yoon SJ, Diem NC, Kim HM, Kwon SW.

2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Current evidence suggests that acupuncture is an efficient and safe treatment for functional constipation.

This systematic review suggests that acupuncture for FC is safe and effective, especially in terms of increased stool frequency and improved constipation symptoms, stool formation, and quality of life, but the relationship between acupuncture and drugs is not clear. In the future, high-quality RCTs are still needed to provide evidence to support these conclusions and examine the alternative or complementary relationship between acupuncture and existing drugs for the treatment of FC.

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Management of Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Wang, Lu; Xu, Mingmin; Zheng, Qianhua; Zhang, Wei; Li, Ying.

2020 World Journal of Gastroenterology

Positive effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture were observed in regulating gastric motility, gastric accommodation, mental status, gastrointestinal hormones, and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life.

In this systematic review, we pooled randomized controlled trials with mechanistic investigations of acupuncture or electroacupuncture in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and illustrated the existing results that may provide potential explanations for the therapeutic effects. The findings of included studies in this review suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture can improve gastric motility and accommodation, regulate gastrointestinal hormones and mental status, and alter certain central and autonomic functions in patients with functional dyspepsia. However, due to limitations in the included articles, high-quality studies with well-planned designs and multiregional investigations are necessary to provide more convincing and credible evidence.

Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review Guo Y, Wei W, Chen JD

2020 Food Bioscience

Different varieties of dates pose impressive nutritional profiles and exhibit multiple health benefits, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol lowering potential.

The study embarked on a systematic literature review, utilizing the Scopus, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Google Scholar and Web of Science databases to assess works published from 1971 to 2017, resulting in 270 relevant articles. The focus was to evaluate the nutritional profile and nutraceutical attributes of different date varieties worldwide, particularly from their cultivation hotspots in West Asia and North Africa.

The findings indicate that date fruit is a rich, affordable source of numerous nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, dietary minerals, vitamins, and various health-promoting compounds such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, tannins and flavones. The fruit's constituents, particularly beta-glucan, show a vast array of beneficial effects on health, functioning as antioxidant, anti-tumor, immune-modulating, anti-diabetic, and cholesterol-lowering agents, as well as promoting beneficial gut microflora growth. Preclinical studies also underline the beneficial effects of date fruit in protecting against a range of health conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer. The positive health impacts were observed in different parts of the fruit, namely the flesh, peel, and pits.

Nutritional and biological characteristics of the date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) – A review Hussain MI, Farooq M, Syed QA

2019 Nutrition

Hépar mineral water, rich in sulphates and magnesium, effectively treats functional constipation, showing significant results within 7 days.

In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study, 226 outpatients with functional constipation were evaluated. Participants underwent a washout period before consuming 1.5 liters of water daily for 14 days, of which 1 liter was either Hépar or low-mineral water. Patients self-reported stool consistency daily, and an expert investigator, blinded to the treatment groups, evaluated stool consistency using the Bristol stool scale based on patient-provided photographs.

The study successfully met its primary endpoint, with 50% of participants in the Hépar group responding to treatment by day 14, compared to 29% in the control group. The average time to observe a treatment response was 6.4 days for Hépar users, shorter than the 7.3 days in the control group. Approximately 60% of patients provided stool scores, with 79% of these scores closely aligning between patients and experts. The safety analysis of Hépar indicated excellent results, confirming its efficacy and safety in treating functional constipation.

Time to treatment response of a magnesium- and sulphate-rich natural mineral water in functional constipation Dupont C, Constant F, Imbert A, Hébert G, Zourabichvili O, Kapel N

2018 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Drinking alkaline-reduced water can improve the quality of life in patients suffering from diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

In this study, twenty-seven patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome were divided into two groups: one group that drank at least 2 liters of alkaline-reduced water a day, and a control group that drank placebo water. The duration of the experiment was eight weeks, during which symptom scores (including quality of life and abdominal pain/discomfort), stool form, and frequency were evaluated via questionnaires both before and after the treatment duration.

The results indicated that an overall greater percentage of patients in the alkaline-reduced water group experienced symptom improvement across the majority of the treatment period compared to the control group. Specifically, the quality of life score in the alkaline-reduced water group significantly improved, a change which was significantly more substantial than the minor improvement seen in the control group. The report about abdominal pain also showed its reduction in both groups, but this change did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Effects of Alkaline-Reduced Drinking Water on Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study Shin DW, Yoon H, Kim HS, Choi YJ, Shin CM, Park YS, Kim N, Lee DH

2017 Acupuncture in Medicine

Patients receiving acupuncture combined with western medicine had a superior global symptom improvement compared with those receiving western medicine alone for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

A total of 12 trials involving 1235 patients were included. Meta-analyses demonstrated that patients receiving MA/EA combined with WM had a superior global symptom improvement compared with those receiving WM alone with no significant heterogeneity. Recurrence rates of those receiving MA/EA alone were lower than those receiving WM with low heterogeneity, while global symptom improvement (six studies) and symptom scores (three studies) were similar. Descriptive analyses suggested that acupuncture also improves quality of life in patients with GORD.

Acupuncture for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis Zhu, J., Guo, Y., Liu, S., Su, X., Li, Y., Yang, Y., Hou, L., Wang, G., Zhang, J., Chen, J. J. D., Wang, Q., Wei, R., & Wei, W.

2017 PLOS One

Chinese herbal medicines showed greater improvement in terms of clinical efficacy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation than cisapride and mosapride.

Eleven eligible studies comprising a total of 906 participants were identified. In the primary outcome, TCM showed significant improvement in overall clinical efficacy compared with cisapride and mosapride. In terms of secondary outcomes, TCM significantly alleviated abdominal pain, defecation frequency, and stool form in the treatment group as compared to the control group. A lower recurrence rate was associated with TCM as compared to cisapride and mosapride. No adverse effects were observed during TCM treatment.

TCM showed greater improvement in terms of clinical efficacy in the treatment of IBS-C than cisapride and mosapride, although it was not possible to draw a definitive conclusion due to the small sample size, high risk, and low quality of the studies. Large multi-center and long-term high-quality randomized control trials are needed.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome Dan-yan Li , Yun-kai Dai , Yun-zhan Zhang, Meng-xin Huang, Ru-liu Li, Jia Ou-yang, Wei-jing Chen, Ling Hu

2017 Acupuncture in Medicine

Patients receiving acupuncture combined with western medicine had a superior global symptom improvement compared with those receiving western medicine alone for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

A total of 12 trials involving 1235 patients were included. Meta-analyses demonstrated that patients receiving MA/EA combined with WM had a superior global symptom improvement compared with those receiving WM alone with no significant heterogeneity. Recurrence rates of those receiving MA/EA alone were lower than those receiving WM with low heterogeneity, while global symptom improvement (six studies) and symptom scores (three studies) were similar. Descriptive analyses suggested that acupuncture also improves quality of life in patients with GORD.

Acupuncture for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis Zhu, J., Guo, Y., Liu, S., Su, X., Li, Y., Yang, Y., Hou, L., Wang, G., Zhang, J., Chen, J. J. D., Wang, Q., Wei, R., & Wei, W.

2017 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Kiwifruits can relieve constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, potentially through protease-activated signaling, modulation of microflora, changes in colonic methane, bile flux, or mediation of inflammatory processes.

The review outlines the physiological processes underlying constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, and discusses the nutritional composition of kiwifruits. It delves into recent advances made in the study of kiwifruits and their impact on abdominal comfort, with the focus being given to the effect of kiwifruit fibers on gastrointestinal health. The study also identified and examined certain gaps in the existing research, using indications from studies on other foods known to affect the gastrointestinal tract to derive possible mechanisms of kiwifruits' beneficial actions.

In discussing the results, the review observed that while the effect of kiwifruit fibers on gastrointestinal health is well established, the supposed increase in gastrointestinal motility caused by kiwifruits is yet to be fully characterized. Numerous potential mechanisms were invoked that could be contributing to the physiological effects observed - these included the induction of motility through protease-activated signaling, the modulation of microflora in the gut, alterations in colonic methane status or bile flux, and the mediation of inflammation within the gut.

Putative mechanisms of kiwifruit on maintenance of normal gastrointestinal function Bayer SB, Gearry RB, Drummond LN

2017 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition

Kiwifruits can relieve constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, potentially through protease-activated signaling, modulation of microflora, changes in colonic methane, bile flux, or mediation of inflammatory processes.

The review outlines the physiological processes underlying constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, and discusses the nutritional composition of kiwifruits. It delves into recent advances made in the study of kiwifruits and their impact on abdominal comfort, with the focus being given to the effect of kiwifruit fibers on gastrointestinal health. The study also identified and examined certain gaps in the existing research, using indications from studies on other foods known to affect the gastrointestinal tract to derive possible mechanisms of kiwifruits' beneficial actions.

In discussing the results, the review observed that while the effect of kiwifruit fibers on gastrointestinal health is well established, the supposed increase in gastrointestinal motility caused by kiwifruits is yet to be fully characterized. Numerous potential mechanisms were invoked that could be contributing to the physiological effects observed - these included the induction of motility through protease-activated signaling, the modulation of microflora in the gut, alterations in colonic methane status or bile flux, and the mediation of inflammation within the gut.

Putative mechanisms of kiwifruit on maintenance of normal gastrointestinal function Bayer SB, Gearry RB, Drummond LN

2015 World Journal of Gastroenterology

Acupuncture has the potential to treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders by regulating GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis.

Although acupuncture has been used as an appropriate adjunctive treatment for GI dysfunction diseases, the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly understood. Currently, there are no systematic and comprehensive review articles that clarify the regulatory effect of acupuncture on GI function. In this review, we discuss the regulation on GI function through acupuncture from the perspectives of GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. The results of studies in both humans and animals suggest that acupuncture has the potential to treat GI disorders by regulating GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. In addition, the dual regulatory effects and the intensity-dependent nature of acupuncture on GI motility are discussed.

Acupuncture and regulation of gastrointestinal function Li H, He T, Xu Q, Li Z, Liu Y, Li F, Yang BF, Liu CZ.

2015 European Journal of Nutrition

Drinking natural mineral water rich in magnesium sulphate and sodium sulphate daily improves bowel movement frequency and stool consistency in people with functional constipation.

This placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial involved 106 healthy individuals with functional constipation. They were randomly assigned to consume either 300 or 500 ml of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium sulphate and sodium sulphate (Donat Mg) or a placebo water daily for six weeks. The 300-ml groups were discontinued following an interim analysis. Participants recorded their bowel movements, stool consistency, gastrointestinal symptoms, and general well-being in a diary. The primary outcome was the change in the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements per week.

In the 500-ml group, consisting of 75 subjects, there was a tendency for a higher increase in complete spontaneous bowel movements per week in the active group compared to the placebo after six weeks. The mean number of spontaneous bowel movements significantly increased over the study period, with notable differences between the study arms throughout the study. Stool consistency and subjectively perceived symptoms of constipation improved significantly with the mineral water compared to placebo. Overall, the daily consumption of this specific mineral water led to improvements in bowel movement frequency and stool consistency, enhancing the health-related quality of life for participants with functional constipation.

Efficacy and safety of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium and sulphate for bowel function: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study Bothe G, Coh A, Auinger A

2013 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy show greater effectiveness than oral sulphasalazine in treating inflammatory bowel diseases.

For the methodology, seven significant databases, both domestic and international, were meticulously searched to accumulate and examine randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These trials specifically compared acupuncture and moxibustion as the main intervention to pharmacotherapy in treating Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In total, 43 RCTs were incorporated and examined, 10 of which distinctly compared oral sulphasalazine with acupuncture or/and moxibustion treatments.

In regards to the results received, the study found that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy displayed superior results when compared with oral sulphasalazine. This conclusion is drawn from the meta-analysis of the 10 trials focusing specifically on these treatments. Even though the systemic review presented several limitations and a definitive conclusion wasn't reached, it still laid groundwork for the potential effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in managing Inflammatory bowel diseases.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Ji, J., Lu, Y., Liu, H., Feng, H., Zhang, F., Wu, L., Cui, Y., & Wu, H.

2013 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Recent phytochemical studies of jujube fruits have shed some light on their biological effects, such as the anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, immunostimulating, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and gastrointestinal protective activities and inhibition of foam cell formation in macrophages.

The nutritional jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) fruit belonging to the Rhamnaceous family grows mostly in Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and Australia, especially the inland region of northern China. Jujube has a long history of usage as a fruit and remedy. The main biologically active components are vitamin C, phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenic acids, and polysaccharides. Recent phytochemical studies of jujube fruits have shed some light on their biological effects, such as the anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, immunostimulating, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and gastrointestinal protective activities and inhibition of foam cell formation in macrophages. A stronger focus on clinical studies and phytochemical definition of jujube fruits will be essential for future research efforts. This review may be useful for predicting other medicinal uses and potential drug or food interactions and may be beneficial for people living where the jujube fruits are prevalent and health care resources are scarce.

The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit: a review of current knowledge of fruit composition and health benefits Gao QH, Wu CS, Wang M.

2012 Scientific Reports

The traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis of Cold and Hot Syndromes based on tongue-coating appearance successfully detects signals in the tongue-coating microbiomes that are indicators of the entire body's status.

In summary, by studying the tongue-coating microbiomes of chronic atrophic gastritis patients and healthy controls using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, we revealed the possible mechanism underlying the traditional tongue diagnosis and highlighted the potential for using tongue coating microbiome features as biomarkers to reflect the holistic status of the human body, especially in gastrointestinal diseases. The current sample size of this study is still small and further investigations with more samples and complete metagenome sequencing are needed for a comprehensive understanding of the system. The observations described here might provide a new direction for understanding the biological basis of TCM tongue diagnosis and the link between the “geographic tongue” and the human body's health status observed in modern Western medicine.

Integrating next-generation sequencing and traditional tongue diagnosis to determine tongue coating microbiome Bai Jiang, Xujun Liang, Yang Chen, Tao Ma, Liyang Liu, Junfeng Li, Rui Jiang, Ting Chen, Xuegong Zhang & Shao Li