Irritable bowel syndrome: reduced symptom burden through propolis?

IBS patients often suffer symptoms from the condition, and a new study from Iran looked if propolis - a resin produced by bees - has positive effects against IBS.

Propolis for irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is associated with high levels of distress

IBS can be associated with many different symptoms. People with IBS often suffer from abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation or a mixture of constipation and diarrhoea. In addition, there is the psychological stress caused by the disease. With the increasing number of sufferers, better treatment options are also being sought.

Double-blind study with IBS patients

The present study on IBS has a randomised, double-blind design and investigates the effects that propolis has on IBS. Fifty-six patients suffering from either IBS-C (constipation subtype) or IBS-M (mixed subtype) and meeting Rome IV criteria were included. They were divided 1:1 into either the verum group or the placebo group. Sufferers in the verum group received 900 mg of propolis per day. The duration of the study was six weeks. 

Partially significant results for IBS

Symptom burden was measured using the IBS symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS). This showed a significant decrease in symptoms overall and in abdominal pain and frequency in particular. In addition, a subjective improvement in disease burden was more likely in the verum group.

Conclusion for medical practice

Propolis also appears to be beneficial in the treatment of IBS, reducing pain intensity and frequency.

Source:
Miryan M, Soleimani D, Alavinejad P, Abbaspour M, Ostadrahimi A. Effects of propolis supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and mixed (IBS-M) stool pattern: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Food Sci Nutr. 2022 Apr 20;10(6):1899-1907. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.2806. PMID: 35702280; PMCID: PMC9179135.