Clinical trial: the combination of rifaximin with partially hydrolysed guar gum is more effective than rifaximin alone in eradicating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

2010 Oct;

Abstract

 

BACKGROUND:

Abnormal intestinal clearance is involved in the pathogenesis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It is known that partially hydrolysed guar gum affects intestinal motility. Eradication therapy of SIBO is based on antibiotic treatment: no data are available on the role of fibre supplementation in eradicating SIBO.

AIM:

To assess whether the combination of partially hydrolysed guar gum and rifaximin is more effective than rifaximin alone in the treatment of SIBO.

METHODS:

A 50 g-glucose breath test was given to 500 consecutive patients. Patients with a positive glucose breath test and predisposing conditions to SIBO entered into the study, and were randomized to receive rifaximin 1200 mg/day or rifaximin 1200 mg/day plus partially hydrolysed guar gum 5 g/day for 10 days. Patients completed a symptom questionnaire and glucose breath test both in basal condition and 1 month after withdrawal of therapy.

RESULTS:

Seventy-seven patients had SIBO. Eradication rate of SIBO was 62.1% in the rifaximin group (both on per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses), and 87.1% (per-protocol, P=0.017) and 85.0% (intention-to-treat, P=0.036) in the rifaximin-plus-partially hydrolysed guar gum group. Clinical improvement was observed in 86.9% and 91.1% of eradicated cases in rifaximin and rifaximin-plus-partially hydrolysed guar gum groups respectively (P=0.677).

CONCLUSION:

The combination of rifaximin with partially hydrolysed guar gum seems to be more useful in eradicating SIBO compared with rifaximin alone.

 

 

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20937045

 

 

ALSO: 

 

 

Role of partially hydrolyzed guar gum in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the world's most common gastrointestinal functional disorder and is associated with several social and economic costs. Health-related quality of life is often impaired in patients with IBS. The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying IBS remain poorly defined. The therapeutic approach to patients with IBS is based on symptoms, and fibers may play an important role in treatment. Among the various types of fiber, water-soluble, non-gelling fibers seem to be a promising option for treatment of IBS. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) is a water-soluble, non-gelling fiber that has provided therapeutic benefits. In clinical trials, PHGG decreased symptoms in constipation-predominant and diarrhea-predominant forms of IBS and decreased abdominal pain. Further, an improvement in quality of life was observed in patients with IBS during and after treatment with PHGG. Moreover, PHGG seems to have prebiotic properties because it increases the colonic contents of short-chain fatty acids, Lactobacilli, and Bifidobacteria.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16413751

 

Personal note:

What I don't know is if normal guar gum powder would have the same effect as Partially Hydrolysed Guar Gum. 

 

Here are two other interesting links about the same thing too: 

http://peer.ccsd.cnrs.fr/docs/00/56/70/44/PDF/PEER_stage2_10.1111%2Fj.1365-2036.2010.04436.x.pdf

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=176Krw33HWUC&pg=PA167&lpg=PA167&dq=guar+gum+and+rifaximin&source=bl&ots=D8IMBbdxp7&sig=LWxI4dMotZB_DUHarkQLZ7OMbIU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4tH2T5GSIpS40gHRxfDqBg&ved=0CE8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=guar gum and rifaximin&f=false