A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial Essay

If you're like many other people (including myself till I started researching this), you might only have a vague idea about what a healthy gut is. You likely know there are bacteria in your gut, that antibiotics destroy those bacteria and that you need to eat yogurt to put those bacteria back. You likely don't know you need to eat special yogurt containing active live cultures to bring bacteria back in your

More than a century ago the notion of microbiota working as a regulator for health and disease was already in use. They realized that consuming large amounts of fermented milk helped with their longevity. This began the foundation of probiotics. However, the oral probiotics that are used today are at a lower amount than what is contained in the colon. After cycling through the digestive system it is

Health care providers use the Rome Criteria, which is a group of the most common symptoms that characterize IBS. The Rome Criteria includes abdominal discomfort during the span of several months or longer that is associated with at least two of the following: “the pain or discomfort is relieved by defecation, the pain or discomfort is associated with an increase or decrease in stool frequency, and/or the pain or discomfort is associated with the stools becoming harder or softer in consistency” (International). After the Rome Criteria is concluded, the provider must look for signs and symptoms that are suggestive of a condition other than IBS, such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease. These signs and symptoms have been referred to as “red flags”, which include: rectal bleeding, iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), weight loss, family history of colon cancer, fever, and age of onset after age

At such a wide age range, it is very common for a person to get IBS because it is mainly caused by certain dietary restrictions and stress. Up to 50% of people with IBS have psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression (Erlich, 2014). Although IBS physically causes discomfort, much of this could be because of mental health. Some of the first signs of IBS are cramping, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. If anyone encounters such symptoms, treatments such as previously mentioned medications and medical advice are necessary. However, prevention is always the best way to go which involves changing one’s diet by adding fiber, avoiding stimulants, reducing anxiety, getting regular exercise, seeking counseling if necessary, and living a healthy

Studies have identified different genera of bacteria which are present in the microbiome and their role in nutrient intake. Gut microbiota has 3 main enterotypes Prevotella, Bacteroides and Ruminococcus, there is a strong correlation between the concentration of each bacterial community and the dietary constituents. A diet high in carbohydrates and simple sugars would also indicate and reveal a greater concentration of Prevotella whereas a diet high in protein and animal fats would present a higher concentration of Bacteroides in the gut. A long term change in the diet would permanently shift the concentration of bacteria in the gut to accommodate the new nutrient uptake. This would then change the bacterial barrier in the intestine which could make it more vulnerable due to reduced species richness.

Indeed, the many instances of such potential associations are too great to summarize in this review and thus here the focus is on associations that have been the focus of greatest attention, that is, the possibility of a link between the gut microbiota and chronic GI diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Functional bowel disorders such as IBS are defined solely on symptom-based diagnostic criteria. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habits. Although the etiology is multifactorial, recent understanding of the pathophysiology of IBS has revealed that variations in the normal gut microbiota may have a role to play in the low-grade intestinal inflammation associated with the syndrome. IBD: encompassing both UC and CD, is characterized by a chronic and relapsing inflammation of the GI tract. UC and CD are generally described as chronic IBDs, although are distinct diseases that differ both in their symptoms and inflammation pattern. Specifically, CD is a chronic, segmental inflammation of the GI tract and although the etiology is not yet clear, it is defined as a complex trait that results from the interaction between the host genetics and the gut microbial population. UC is generally characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the colon. The onset of both conditions is, in general, not thought to be due to a single causal organism but by a general microbial Dysbiosis in the gut, systemic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity: Obesity and related disorders, such as T2D and metabolic syndrome, have become increasingly common in recent decades. Obesity is a complex syndrome that develops from a prolonged imbalance of energy intake and energy expenditure. Although lifestyle factors, diet and

Irritable bowel syndrome is described as a chronic illness that affects about one out of every five Americans. It is characterized as an ailment of the large intestine that causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea, or constipation; sometimes both. There are different types of IBS, however, both affect the abdominal area. However, only a small number of people have extremely severe symptoms. Many people are able to manage/ control their symptoms through changes in diet, stress, and lifestyle. In more extreme cases, medication as well as counseling is used. .

Even though IBS has, no known cause physicians believe that IBS may be intensified by certain internal and external

This is a randomized controlled study that will determine if the implementation of COPD discharge care bundles will decrease the 30 day readmit rate for patients with respiratory complications. The prospective study participants will be adults over the age of 35 admitted to an acute care hospital with the admitting diagnosis of an acute COPD exacerbation. COPD will be defined as a patient having a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) less than 70% predicted for age and height and a FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio less than 70% (Bucknall et al., 2012). Respiratory therapy will verify the correct diagnosis by performing an extensive history and physical, spirometry, chest x-ray and an electrocardiograph. Once the diagnosis of COPD has been

The study trial clearly focused on the effectiveness that S. boulardii had on the prevention of AAD and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) the use of the probiotics to prevent this. The population focus was hospitalized adults. A total of fifteen hospitals were included in the trial. Two thousand four hundred and forty-four patients were initially screen to participate in this study. 1976 participants were deemed to be ineligible, unwilling to participate in the study or there were ethical or operational limitations that resulted in patients not participating. This has the potential to significantly impact external validity. Since the participants were all from large teaching hospitals, the comorbidities and illness of the patient were more complex, therefore it led to issues in the recruitment process. The eligibility criteria could have resulted in only healthy participants being included within the study. The assignment of patients to the intervention group occurred using blocked randomization. An allocation ratio of 1:1 was implemented through a computer method. The sequence for allocation into the groups using a separate statistician and the results were hidden from the participants or the investigators. The trials were stopped early due to futility was noted after four hundred and forty-six patients. A total of four hundred and seventy-seven patients were randomized into

Participants (n: 100-150) will be acquired for this experiment from various course sections as previously described. Participants will first be given a preliminary questionnaire in order to exclude those who did not meet the inclusion criteria. Participants will then be asked to sign a consent form, allowing the potentially use of any data obtained. All participants will then be randomly assigned into two groups in a single-blind fashion; the two groups are: control and experimental. The control group will be given a placebo probiotic supplement in pill form while the experimental group will be given the probiotic supplement in pill form. Participants will then be asked to ingest one pill/day for the following two-week period; they

Some of our gut flora play a critical role in helping us digest certain things. For example, they ferment dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids. They also play an important role in creating vitamins B and K, as well as other important chemicals, such as sterols. These play an important role in our immune function. Problems with the gut flora are known to correlate to autoimmune disease and inflammatory

I am responding to the article Complementary and alternative medicines in irritable bowel syndrome: An integrative view which was reviewed by Carolyn Essington. The content of this article affected my view and understanding of the IBS a lot. I have a better understanding about IBS, it’s treatment.IBS is a chronic disorder that effects the large intestines and causes symptoms such as abdominal pain,cramping,constipation and diarrhea. Although there isn’t firm evidence, mind and body practices including hypnotherapy may help reduce the symptoms of IBS. Mind and body practices appear to be safe. The gut-brain axis also called the enteric nervous system is a field of study that is becoming more and more investigated. Hypnotherapy (Hypnosis) have

As a patient living with IBS, I have learned to understand my body and what kind of diet to follow in order to control my symptoms, the same way I will instruct patients to learn how their bodies work, how they react to certain foods and to learn how to manage food intake in order to maintain a healthy and manageable lifestyle, but most important is always to consult with your physician in order to rule out all other medical conditions. IBS can be difficult to life with, but with the right care, nutrition and medical intervention, a fulfilling life can be

Overall health and well-being can be affected by the bacteria in the gut, and an imbalance in the digestive system can cause changes in the body and manifest as any number of ailments, including abdominal discomfort, irritable bowel syndrome, crohn's disease skin and ulcerative colitis. Gut health and immune system closely linked, and while bacteria are important for digestion, it can also have an effect on hormone levels, stress and metabolism. Both good and bad bacteria are found in the gut, and it is vital to feed and supply the beneficial bacteria in order to maintain good health. Probiotics can play a role in bringing balance to the bacteria in the gut and prevent the development of diseases, by boosting the immune system, which in turn, promotes good health. There are a number of probiotic products on the market that provide different benefits. Lets look at the top five probiotics and what they can do for your health.