High-fibre diet and Lactobacillus paracasei B21060 in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease

摘要

AIM:To investigate in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease the efficacy of symbiotics associated with a high-fibre diet on abdominal symptoms.METHODS:This study was a multicentre,6-mo randomized,controlled,parallel-group intervention with a preceding 4-wk washout period.Consecutive outpatients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease,aged 40-80 years,evaluated in 4 Gastroenter-ology Units,were enrolled.Symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease patients were randomized to two treatment arms A or B.Treatment A(n = 24 patients) received 1 symbiotic sachet Flortec(Lactobacillus paracasei B21060) once daily plus high-fibre diet for 6 mo.Treatment B(n = 21 patients) received high-fibre diet alone for 6 mo.The primary endpoint was regression of abdominal symptoms and change of symptom severity after 3 and 6 mo of treatment.RESULTS:In group A,the proportion of patients with abdominal pain 24 h decreased from 60% to 20% then 5% after 3 and 6 mo,respectively in group A(P < 0.001) and from 33.3% to 9.5% at both 3 and 6 mo in group B(P = 0.03).In group A the proportion of patients with abdominal bloating significantly decreased from 95% to 60% after 3 mo,and remained stable(65%) at 6-mo follow-up(P = 0.005) while in group B,no significant changes in abdominal bloating was observed(P = 0.11).After 6 mo of treatment,the mean visual analogic scale(VAS) values of both short-lasting abdominal pain(VAS,mean ± SD,group A:4.6 ± 2.1 vs 2.2 ± 0.8,P = 0.02;group B:4.6 ± 2.9 vs 2.0 ± 1.9,P = 0.03) and abdominal bloating(VAS,mean ± SD,group A:5.3 ± 2.2 vs 3.0 ± 1.7,P = 0.005;group B:5.3 ± 3.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.9,P = 0.006) decreased in both groups,whilst the VAS values of prolonged abdominal pain decreased in the Flortec group,but remained unchanged in the high-fibre diet group(VAS,mean ± SD,group A:6.5 ± 1.5 vs 4.5 ± 2.1,P = 0.052;group B:4.5 ± 3.8 vs 5.5 ± 3.5).CONCLUSION:A high-fibre diet is effective in relievingabdominal symptoms in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease.This treatment may be implemented by combining the high-fibre diet with Flortec.