The Role of Purported Mucoprotectants in Dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Diarrhea, and Other Chronic Diarrheal Disorders in Adults

Chronic diarrhea is a frequent presenting symptom, both in primary care medicine and in specialized gastroenterology units. It is estimated that more than 5% of the global population suffers from chronic diarrhea. and that about 40% of these subjects are older than 60 years. The clinician is frequen...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Alonso Cotoner, Carmen|||0000-0002-3483-2919, Abril-Gil, Mar|||0000-0003-0318-6755, Albert-Bayo, Mercé|||0000-0002-9726-8083, Ganda Mall, John-Peter|||0000-0002-2120-7743, Expósito, Elba|||0000-0001-6088-3149, González Castro, Ana Maria|||0000-0003-3955-3318, Lobo Álvarez, Beatriz|||0000-0003-3391-7125, Santos, Javier|||0000-0002-4798-5033
Format: article
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:238778
Online Access:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/238778
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1007/s12325-021-01676-z
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Adults
Bismuth subsalicylate
Chronic diarrhea
Gelatine tannate
Mucoprotectans
Mucus
Smectite intestinal permeability
Xyloglugan
Description
Summary:Chronic diarrhea is a frequent presenting symptom, both in primary care medicine and in specialized gastroenterology units. It is estimated that more than 5% of the global population suffers from chronic diarrhea. and that about 40% of these subjects are older than 60 years. The clinician is frequently faced with the need to decide which is the best therapeutic approach for these patients. While the origin of chronic diarrhea is diverse, impairment of intestinal barrier function, dysbiosis. and mucosal micro-inflammation are being increasingly recognized as underlying phenomena characterizing a variety of chronic diarrheal diseases. In addition to current pharmacological therapies, there is growing interest in alternative products such as mucoprotectants, which form a mucoadhesive film over the epithelium to reduce and protect against the development of altered intestinal permeability, dysbiosis, and mucosal micro-inflammation. This manuscript focuses on chronic diarrhea in adults, and we will review recent evidence on the ability of these natural compounds to improve symptoms associated with chronic diarrhea and to exert protective effects for the intestinal barrier.