2.5. Inclusion and exclusion criteria
bloating, dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis, IBS, postprandial distress syndrome, constipation, abdominal bloating/distension, ; active psychiatric, gastrointestinal disorders, abdominal bloating
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE, POSTPRANDIAL DISTRESS SYNDROME, ULCERATIVE COLITIS, CROHN DISEASE, FUNCTIONAL DIARRHEA, FUNCTIONAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER, FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION, GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
The study included adult (18–65-year-old) male and female participants experiencing abdominal discomfort, gas, bloating, and distension symptoms. The enrolled subjects fulfilled Rome IV C4 diagnostic criteria for functional abdominal bloating/distension. Rome IV C4 diagnostic criteria consist of recurrent bloating and/or distention occurring at least 1 day per week and a predominance of abdominal bloating and distention over other symptoms in the absence of IBS, functional constipation, functional diarrhea, or postprandial distress syndrome. As per the Rome IV criteria, these symptoms should be present for at least 6 months before diagnosis, with persisting symptoms for the last 3 months.Exclusion criteria included indications of functional dyspepsia or other functional gastrointestinal disorders; active psychiatric conditions; and consumption of supplements or medications that would interfere with the gut’s natural microbiota, such as antibiotics, within the last 21 days before screening. In addition, subjects with gastrointestinal disorders or other digestive problems such as Crohn disease, short bowel, ulcerative colitis confirmed by fecal calprotectin negative test, constipation, and lactose intolerance were also excluded. Subjects who used gastrointestinal medications to control gut function, such as antispasmodics, prokinetic agents, probiotics, prebiotics, or laxatives, were excluded from the study.