Improvement of functional bloating by an enterovaccine: a preliminary study.

Background: Bloating is a fastidious symptom reported by many patients who also have other gastrointestinal functional disorders. Bloating is more common in women, and it is often associated with meals and improves or disappears overnight. No specific treatments are to date available for this disturbing symptom.

Aims: to evaluate the effects of an oral enterovaccine (Colifagina) on bloating and other abdominal symptoms in patients with prevalent complaints of functional bloating.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and forty-eight patients with functional bloating according to Rome III criteria were recruited. Questionnaires and a VAS scale on their symptoms were administered at baseline and after four weeks of therapy with Colifagina.

Results: After treatment, a significant amelioration of bloating (p < 0.0001), abdominal pain (p < 0.0001) and flatus (p < 0.0001) was observed; nausea and vomiting scores were not significantly different at the end of the treatment. Subjective wellbeing was also generally improved (p < 0.001) in treated patients.

Conclusion: Treatment with an enterovaccine may help improve symptoms in patients with functional bloating.