Abstract
A meta-analysis was performed of double-blind, randomized clinical studies that evaluated the efficacy of the herbal preparation Iberogast in patients with functional dyspepsia. All studies had the same duration and used the same dosage of active treatment and the same primary outcome measure, a dyspepsia-specific gastrointestinal symptom score. Of the 592 trial participants, 196 were treated with Iberogast and 192 with placebo or cisapride (positive control). The individual studies all showed a substantial improvement of symptoms with Iberogast but varying results regarding its statistically significant superiority to placebo. The meta-analysis of all studies, however, demonstrated a clear, highly significant overall therapeutic effect of Iberogast in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Tolerability of the preparation was excellent.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Talley NJ, Silverstein MD, Agréus L, Nyrén O, Sonnenberg A, Holtmann G. AGA technical review: evaluation of dyspepsia.Gastroenterology. 1998;114:582–595.
Drossmann DA. The functional gastrointestinal disorders and the Rome II process. A multinational consensus document on functional gastrointestinal disorders.Gut. 1999;45(suppl II):1–5.
Milosavljevic T, Jovanovic I. Functional dyspepsia.Arch Gastroenterohepatol. 2000;19:40–51.
Talley NJ, Stanghellini V, Heading RC, Koch KL, Malagelada JR, Tytgat GN. Functional gastroduodenal disorders.Gut. 1999;45(suppl II):37–42.
Talley N. Scope of the problem of functional digestive disorders.Eur J Surg. 1998;583(suppl): 35–41.
Talley NJ. Drug treatment of functional dyspepsia.Scand J Gastroenterol. 1991;26(suppl 182): 47–60.
Holtmann G, Talley NJ. Functional dyspepsia. Current treatment recommendations.Drugs. 1993;45:918–930.
Saller R, Pfister-Hotz G, Iten F, Melzer J, Reichling J. Iberogast®: a modern phytotherapeutic combination herbal drug for the treatment of functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome). A systematic review.Forschr Komplement Klass Naturheilkd. 2002;9(suppl 1):1–20.
Strathmann D. Bitterer Bauernsenf bei funktionellen Magen-Darm-Störungen.Z Phytother. 1983; 4:734.
Blumenthal M, ed.The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin, Tex: American Botanical Council; 1998.
Buchert D. Wirkung einer fixen Kombination bei gesicherter Non Ulcer Dyspepsie.Z Phytother. 1994;15:24–25.
Holtmann G, Hotz J, Mayr G, Schnitker J. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of an herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia.Gastroenterology. 1999;116:A65.
Madisch A, Melderis H, Mayr G, Sassin I, Hotz J. Commercially available herbal preparation and its modified dispensing in patients with functional dyspepsia. Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized multicenter trial.Z Gastroenterol. 2001;39:511–517.
Rösch W, Vinson B, Sassin I. A randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of an herbal preparation STW 5 with the prokinetic drug cisapride in patients with dysmotility type of functional dyspepsia.Z Gastroenterol. 2002;40:401–408.
Winer BJ. Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1971.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gundermann, KJ., Godehardt, E. & Ulbrich, M. Efficacy of a herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia: A meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, clinical trials. Adv Therapy 20, 43–49 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850118
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850118