-
Study aim
-
the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nigella sativa on symptom severity in patients with food- induced irritable bowel syndrome IBS and to assess whether the improvement in IBS symptoms was maintained after discontinuation of the intervention.
-
Design
-
A prospective, single-arm interventional trial
-
Settings and conduct
-
Conducted at outpatient gastroenterology/internal medicine clinics in Mosul, Iraq on food-triggered IBS patients. After baseline assessment, patients took daily raw Nigella sativa seeds for 2 weeks, followed by a 2-week post-treatment evaluation. Open-label, unblinded, non-placebo-controlled study.
-
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
-
Patients between the ages of 18 and 52 who met the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for IBS and reported recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms that were commonly brought on by or made worse by specific meals were assessed for eligibility.
The following were the exclusion criteria: Inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, and gastrointestinal cancer are examples of organic gastrointestinal illnesses. severe long-term systemic problems (such uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, hepatic dysfunction, or renal failure). Sensitivities or allergy to Nigella sativa. lactation or pregnancy. Use of additional probiotics, herbal remedies, or typical IBS medicines (such as laxatives, antispasmodics, or antidiarrheals) within two weeks previous to baseline.
-
Intervention groups
-
Each participant received a pre-weighed box containing 30 g of raw, whole Nigella sativa seeds; this corresponds to a daily chewing of 2 g for 15 consecutive days.
-
Main outcome variables
-
The primary outcome variable is the change in the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms related to food-induced IBS (such as abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel habit changes)