Introduction: Digestion is a critical process that, when disrupted, can lead to gastrointestinal disorders significantly affecting the quality of life. A food supplement is proposed as a therapeutic alternative based on digestive enzymes and natural components such as papaya, fennel and ginger, aimed at alleviating symptoms related to digestive issues.
Methods: A one-week study was conducted with 74 subjects recruited from nine pharmacies. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the food supplement in study using visual analogue scales, Goldberg subscales for anxiety and somatization and other methods. Subject satisfaction with the product, its safety and adherence to treatment were also examined.
Results: The collected data revealed significant improvements in various gastrointestinal symptoms: Bloating, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, burning, reflux, stomach ache, heavy digestion gas/flatulence and burps. An increase in the quality of life was also observed, corroborated by scales and statistical tests. The product proved to be highly tolerable, with a minimal percentage of subjects experiencing adverse effects. Additionally, statistically significant differences in dietary issues were found when comparing the data with the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey.
Conclusions: The study validated the efficacy of a nutraceutical product in treating a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms. Nearly all subjects tolerated the product well and also showed notable improvements in their quality of life. The research concludes that the product is a viable, effective and well-tolerated treatment option for gastrointestinal disorders, supporting its use in clinical settings to improve both physical symptoms and health-related quality of life.
Keywords: Gastrointestinal disorders; Digestive enzymes; Natural components; Food supplement efficacy; Quality of life improvement; Therapeutic alternative
Journal of Nutraceuticals and Food Science received 374 citations as per google scholar report