Effects of simethicone on gastrointestinal hormones, intestinal floras and inflammatory process mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective To explore the effects of simethicone on gastrointestinal hormones, intestinal floras and inflammatory process mediated by NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods A total of 120 patients with IBS admitted to the hospital were prospectively enrolled as the research objects between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022, and they were randomly divided into control group (60 cases) and treatment group (60 cases). The control group was treated with compound eosinophil-Lactobacillus, while treatment group was additionally treated with simethicone. The curative effect after treatment, scores of gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), levels of somatostatin (SS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), NLRP3 inflammasome, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), counts of intestinal floras before and after treatment, and safety during treatment were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, total response rate of treatment group was higher than that of control group (91.67% vs. 76.67%, P < 0.05). After treatment, GSRS scores in both groups were decreased, which were lower in treatment group than control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, levels of SS and VIP in both groups were decreased, which were lower in treatment group than control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, counts of eosinophil-Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria were increased in both groups, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in counts of intestinal floras between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, levels of NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-8 and IL-1β were decreased in both groups, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). During treatment, there was no significant difference in side effects between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Simethicone can significantly improve response rate of treatment, improve gastrointestinal symptoms and gastrointestinal hormones in IBS patients, which has no significant effects on intestinal floras and inflammatory process mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome, with good safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]