Blueberries Improve Abdominal Symptoms, Well-Being and Functioning in Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Blueberries beneficially modulate physiologic mechanisms relevant to the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Forty-three patients with FGID received freeze-dried blueberries (equivalent to 180 g fresh blueberries) or sugar and energy-matched placebo in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. After 6 weeks of treatment, the differences in Gastrointestinal Clinical Rating Scale (GSRS) scores and abdominal symptom relief were compared as primary outcome measures.

Fructose intolerance is not associated with malabsorption in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Symptoms following fructose ingestion, or fructose intolerance, are common in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) and are generally attributed to intestinal malabsorption. The relationships between absorption, symptoms, and intestinal gas production following fructose ingestion were studied in patients with FGID.

Methods: Thirty FGID patients ingested a single dose of fructose 35 g or water in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study.

Extragastrointestinal Symptoms and Sensory Responses During Breath Tests Distinguish Patients With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Introduction: Patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are classified based on their gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, without considering their frequent extra-GI symptoms. This study defined subgroups of patients using both GI and extra-GI symptoms and examined underlying mechanisms with fructose and lactose breath tests.

Methods: Latent class analysis defined distinct clusters of patients with FGID based on their long-term GI and extra-GI symptoms.

Symptoms of mast cell activation syndrome in functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Mast cell involvement is evident in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). FGID and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) are associated with multi-organ symptoms. An overlap has not been assessed.

Repeatability and effect of blinding of fructose breath tests in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Breath tests are used as measures of sugar intolerance or malabsorption in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), although the repeatability or anticipatory bias have not been adequately studied. We examined the repeatability and anticipatory bias during fructose breath testing using a nocebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over, and double-blind study design.

Methods: Gastrointestinal symptoms and breath concentrations of hydrogen and methane were documented during breath tests with fructose (given open twice and blinded once), water (blind neutral nocebo) and a cyclamate/saccharine sweetener (blind sweet nocebo) on 5 days in patients with FGID.

Fermentable Sugar Ingestion, Gas Production, and Gastrointestinal and Central Nervous System Symptoms in Patients With Functional Disorders.

Background & Aims: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are defined by broad phenotypic descriptions and exclusion of recognizable disease. FGIDs cause multi-organ symptoms and abnormal results in a wide range of laboratory tests, indicating broad mechanisms of pathogenesis. Many patients with FGID develop symptoms following ingestion of fermentable sugars; we investigated the associations between symptoms and intestinal gas production following sugar provocation tests to elucidate mechanisms of FGID.

Breath methane concentrations and markers of obesity in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Obesity is associated with changes in the intestinal microbiome and methane-producing archaea may be involved in energy homeostasis.

Objective: The objective of this article is to investigate the associations between intestinal methane production, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) as biomarkers for obesity.

Methods: Breath methane and hydrogen concentrations were measured over five hours following fructose or lactose ingestion in 1647 patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Longitudinal study of gastroesophageal reflux and erosive tooth wear.

Background: Approximately 60% of patients presenting to dentists with erosive tooth wear have significant gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), despite minor reflux symptoms. No longitudinal studies of reflux-associated erosive tooth wear and of reflux characteristics have been reported to date. The aim of this study was to characterize the longitudinal course of GERD and of associated erosive tooth wear, as well as factors predictive of its progression, in a large group of patients.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux is common in oligosymptomatic patients with dental erosion: A pH-impedance and endoscopic study.

Background: Dental erosion is a complication of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) according to the Montreal consensus statement. However, GORD has not been comprehensively characterized in patients with dental erosions and pH-impedance measures have not been reported.

Objectives: Characterize GORD in patients with dental erosions using 24-h multichannel intraluminal pH-impedance measurements (pH-MII) and endoscopy.