Peppermint Oil for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the more common gastrointestinal disorders seen in clinical practice today. The prevalence of IBS is high: affecting approximately 10-20% of the general population. This disorder not only impacts the quality of life of those affected, but it also accounts for many missed work days and increased financial burden upon patients seeking conventional medical treatments that often do not work. Patients with this functional bowel disorder commonly experience non-specific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as abdominal pain or cramping, change in stool consistency or frequency, and bloating.

Peppermint oil (PO) is one of the most extensively studied and widely used CAM treatments in IBS patients. PO has an antagonistic effect on calcium channels, helping relax GI smooth muscle. This effect helps relieve cramping and pain associated with IBS. Enteric-coated PO is usually recommended over other forms because it dissolves lower in the GI tract; this reduces the risk of esophageal reflux (PO may relax the lower esophageal sphincter). Many recent studies have shown the benefit of using PO in IBS. A clinical trial of 110 patients who had IBS (excluding patients with small bowel bacterial overgrowth, lactose intolerance, or celiac disease) was conducted. [PubMed] After patients took 4 capsules of enteric-coated PO (225 mg/capsule) daily for 4 weeks, symptoms improved in 75% of those taking peppermint oil (compared to 38% of those taking placebo). A similar study [PubMed] involving 110 patients tested the effects of PO in patients with IBS. Patients took 1 capsule of PO (187 mg) or placebo three to four times daily and 15-50 min before meals for 1 month. At the completion of study, 79% of patients in the PO group experienced a reduction in the severity of abdominal pain; 83% had less abdominal distention; 83% had reduced stool frequency; and 79% had less flatulence. Comparatively, 43% in the placebo group had reduced abdominal pain; 29% had reduced distention; 32% had reduced stool frequency; and 22% had less flatulence. Another important study [PubMed] looked at the use of enteric-coated PO in children with IBS that were between the ages of 8 and 17. In this randomized, double-blind controlled trial 43 children with IBS were given 2 PO (0.1 – 0.2 mL) or placebo capsules t.i.d. for two weeks. At the conclusion of the trial 75% of the patients receiving PO reported a significant reduction in the severity of pain associated with IBS (compared with 19% receiving placebo).

Based on this latest research, PO should be considered in IBS patients because it is safe, effective, and cost-effective in treating global symptoms and pain due to its spasmolytic and anti-flatulent effect. It is suggested that a dose of 500 to 900 mg of PO be administered per day; however, this may depend on the severity of symptoms. Enteric-coated PO is usually recommended over other forms because it dissolves lower in the GI tract reducing the occurrence of esophageal reflux.

Studies of interest:

* Irritable bowel syndrome – The role of complementary medicines in treatment. Aust Fam Physician. 2009 Dec;38(12):966-8.
* The effect of enteric-coated, delayed-release peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome. Dig Dis Sci. 2010 May;55(5):1385-90. Epub 2009 Jun 9.
* Review: fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil are all effective for irritable bowel syndrome. Evid Based Med. 2009 Jun;14(3):84.

Source: www. validus.myompi.com