Tier 2 — strong

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Berberine Hydrochloride in Patients with Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Chen C, Tao C, Liu Z, Lu M, Pan Q, Zheng L, Li Q, Song Z, Fichna J
Phytotherapy research : PTR 2015 29(11):1822-1827

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 26400188
DOI
10.1002/ptr.5475
Funding
Indexed support: National Science Foundation of China; Ministry of Science and Technology. See the publication for grant details.
Competing interests
A complete competing-interest declaration was not available in the accessible source; no absence of conflicts is inferred.

Study snapshot

DesignDouble-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial
ModelHuman participants; see population
Sample196 recruited; 132 randomized
InterventionTwice-daily berberine hydrochloride versus placebo; indexed abstract ambiguously describes total daily dose
Duration8 weeks, followed by 4-week washout
EndpointsDiarrhea, pain and urgency frequency; IBS symptom severity and quality of life; Anxiety/depression scores and tolerability

What the study showed, in plain terms

Berberine improved diarrhea frequency, pain and urgency in this IBS-D trial. Results concern a symptom-defined clinical population.

Key findings

  • Berberine improved diarrhea frequency, pain and urgency in this IBS-D trial. Results concern a symptom-defined clinical population.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Dose wording in the accessible abstract is ambiguous; the source should be consulted before quoting a total daily dose. Short-term symptoms do not establish cure.

Source detail: indexed abstract and bibliographic record; unavailable methods or disclosures are identified rather than assumed.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology