Like many people living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Claire Smith, 37, had become used to severe stomach cramps, bloating and persistent tiredness.
But after almost eight years of painful flare-ups, anxiety and planning her days around staying within minutes of a toilet, she realised she could not carry on as she was.
‘I’d always had digestive problems, including bloating, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, and I tried to manage them with over-the-counter remedies such as Imodium,’ said the nursery practitioner from Richmond.
‘But around the time I turned 29, things became much worse. I felt as though I was missing out on watching my children grow up.
‘I would collect my son from school and he’d ask to go to the park, but I’d have to refuse because I was so worried about needing the toilet urgently.
‘I was very self-conscious because I felt bloated all the time, and I was constantly drained. It had a massive impact on my energy — and as a single mum of three, it left me feeling incredibly alone.’
Now, Claire says her life has changed dramatically. She says she has lost weight, her cramps have largely eased, her energy levels are ‘through the roof’ and, most importantly, her digestive problems no longer control her daily routine.
She credits the turnaround to a gut health supplement that she says costs just 40p a day.
Claire had always had stomach issues which she managed with over-the-counter quick fixes – but when her symptoms worsened, no diet or drug would offer her relief
IBS is a common digestive disorder primarily characterised by symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, which tend to come and go over time.
Affecting as many as one in five people in the UK, it is a lifelong condition for many sufferers.
There is currently no cure, and no single diet or treatment works for everyone, however certain medicines and lifestyle changes can help ease symptoms.
Claire was initially prescribed loperamide – a drug commonly used to treat recurring diarrhoea caused by conditions like IBS.
It works by slowing down food as it travels through the gut, allowing the body to draw in more water from the intestines to make stool firmer.
But for Claire, it did little to improve her chronic bloating and persistent symptoms.
‘It was really disheartening,’ she said. ‘It was prescription after prescription with no noticeable difference.’
If anything, Claire says they did more harm than good.
After seeing an advert on Instagram, Claire started taking Healthy Gut supplements
‘It made my bloating so much worse because then I would go the other way and be constipated,’ she said.
Other side-effects of the drug include nausea, headaches, and stomach cramps – which Claire was already experiencing daily.
‘You definitely feel the effect of constantly being on these short-term drugs. Your gut and immune system take a massive hit and it really wipes you out,’ she added.
So when Claire came across a gut health supplement on Instagram in last October, she thought she had nothing to lose.
And just after a month of taking it, Claire began to see glimpses of her old self returning.
‘After a month I felt a little less bloated,’ she said. ‘Then I noticed my period-like cramps that used to be constant became a rarity.
‘Now, eight months on, my energy levels are up and my confidence has gone through the roof.
‘I’m cautious of labelling anything a miracle drug – and yes, I do still get the occasional flare-up – but these little supplements have completely changed my life.’
Claire has now been taking the supplement for eight months and says it has completely changed her life
The supplement that Claire credits for her transformation is AltruVita’s Healthy Gut – a supplement targeted at relieving IBS symptoms.
The twice-daily pill contains curcumin, green tea extract and Vitamin D – all of which have been shown to support gut health.
And it has now been clinically proven to reduce the symptoms of diarrhoea in IBS.
The trial, carried out by the Functional Gut Health Clinic, involved 78 participants with mild to severe IBS, half of which were instructed to take two capsules twice a day for eight weeks.
The trial was funded by AltruVita, however, crucially, neither the researchers or the participants knew who was receiving the gut health supplement and who was given a placebo.
Symptom severity was tracked using the IBS Symptom Severity Score, taking into consideration number of daily bowel movements, abdominal pain and patient quality of life.
After eight weeks, those taking AltruVita’s Healthy Gut saw a reduction of 54 points – considered a clinically meaningful improvement. Those on the placebo experienced virtually no improvement.
The trial also found it to be safe and well tolerated with no serious side effects.
While the researchers are yet to publish evidence on exactly how the supplement works to reduce IBS symptoms, Professor Martyn Caplin, a gastroenterologist at the Royal Free Hospital and study lead, said it’s likely to do with the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut.
‘These compounds are almost certainly having an impact on the gut microbiome and the balance of good and bad gut flora that live in the digestive tract.
‘These microorganisms create short chain fatty acids that can sometimes trigger diarrhoea and might also contribute to the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine,’ he said.
Curcumin and green tea have been shown to inhibit growth of some harmful bacteria, making more space for balanced populations, while acting as fuel for beneficial bacteria.
‘All three ingredients each have plausible mechanisms for supporting gut health and healthy gut barrier’, says registered nutritionist Rob Hobson.
‘Vitamin D particularly plays an important role in immune regulation and low vitamin D status has been linked with IBS in some people.’
Hobson labelled the results ‘encouraging’, adding that the supplement should be ‘viewed as a promising addition to the growing evidence around nutritional approaches to managing IBS, alongside established dietary and lifestyle approaches.’
Commenting on what the findings could mean for people living with IBS, Harley Street Nutritionist, Kate Cook, said: ‘Finding a solution that actually works – and that clients feel comfortable taking long-term – is incredibly challenging.
‘It is heartening to see such a rigorously researched, gold-standard clinical trial in the natural supplement space.’
