The Effect of Changkang Capsules Combined with Bifidobacterium on Gut Microbiota and Mucosal Barrier Function in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Complicated with Anxiety/Depression and Exploration of Therapeutic Mechanisms
- VernacularTitle:肠康胶囊联合双歧杆菌对肠易激综合征合并焦虑/抑郁患者肠道菌群、黏膜屏障功能影响及治疗机制探究
- Author:
Hongmin YIN
1
;
Bing JI
;
Zhengxia LI
;
Shuyan ZHANG
;
Xinguo PENG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea; Changkang Capsules; Bifidobacterium; Anxiety and depression; Bacterial community; Mucosal barrier function
- From: World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(11):3255-3265
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Background Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea(IBS-D)is a common gastrointestinal dysfunction disease,but currently,single Western medicine treatments have significant side effects and are prone to recurrence.Probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine have certain therapeutic effects on IBS-D,but the exact treatment mechanism is still unclear,and there is limited research on the combination of the two.Objective To investigate the effects of Chongkang Capsules combined with Bifidobacterium on gut microbiota,mucosal barrier function,and neurotransmitter levels in patients with IBS-D and comorbid anxiety and depression,and to analyze its therapeutic mechanisms.Methods A total of 150 patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea(IBS-D)and anxiety and depression who were treated in the gastroenterology department of our hospital from January 2021 to June 2022,were selected as the study subjects.A randomized controlled trial was designed with three treatment groups:50 patients in the observation group received Chongkang Capsules combined with Bifidobacterium for 4 weeks;50 patients in the positive control group received Rifaximin combined with Bifidobacterium for 4 weeks;and 50 patients in the blank control group received Bifidobacterium alone for 4 weeks(to exclude interference from the bacterial species in the Bifidobacterium capsules in intestinal flora detection).The changes in IBS-D symptom severity,stool consistency,anxiety and depression scores(HAM-A/HAM-D),intestinal flora(lactobacilli,Bifidobacterium,bacteroides,enterobacteria),intestinal barrier markers(serum D-lactic acid,DAO),inflammatory factors(IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α),intestinal tight junction proteins(Occludin,ZO-1),neurotransmitters(5-HT),and recurrence rates were compared among the three groups before and after treatment.Results Symptom improvement:the improvement in IBS-SSS scores,stool classification,and HAM-A/HAM-D scores in the observation and positive control groups was significantly better than that in the blank control group(all P<0.001),but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Flora regulation:after treatment,the observation and positive control groups showed a significant increase in beneficial bacteria(lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium)and a significant decrease in pathogenic bacteria(bacteroides and enterobacteria)compared to the blank control group(all P<0.001).The improvement in flora persisted up to 6 months after treatment(P<0.001).Barrier and inflammation:the reduction in serum D-lactic acid,DAO,and IL-6/IL-8/TNF-α levels was significantly greater in the observation and positive control groups than in the blank control group(all P<0.001).The expression of intestinal barrier proteins(Occludin and ZO-1)was significantly upregulated(P<0.001).Neurotransmitters:the increase in serum 5-HT levels were significantly higher in the two groups than in the blank control group(P<0.001).Recurrence rate:the 3-month recurrence rates in the observation group(8.0%)and positive control group(10.0%)were significantly lower than that in the blank control group(30.0%).The 6-month recurrence rates(14.0%vs.16.0%vs.44.0%)also showed significant differences(all P<0.05).Conclusion Chongkang Capsules combined with Bifidobacterium can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms in patients with IBS-D and comorbid anxiety and depression.The mechanism may be related to regulating intestinal flora balance,repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,suppressing inflammatory responses,and increasing 5-HT levels.Additionally,the low recurrence rate suggests its clinical application value.
