Very low-absorbable geraniol in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a “real-world” open-label study on 1585 patients

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a very-low-absorbable geraniol formulation, administered as a food supplement, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in a real-world setting in Italy. Methods: This open-label study was conducted in Italy on patients diagnosed with IBS and treated for 4 weeks with 240 mg/day of Palmarosa essential oil, absorbed on 960 mg of ginger root powder to obtain a very-low-absorbable geraniol formulation. Baseline characteristics, including demographic and symptoms were recorded using the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS). After 28 ± 7 days, the patients were asked to complete the IBS-SSS questionnaire again. The primary objective was to confirm the effects of a very-low-absorbable geraniol formulation on self-reported symptoms of IBS and the quality of life of affected individuals. The secondary objective was to confirm the effect of the treatment on the different IBS subtypes. Results: A total of 1585 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 44.8 years and 56.4% women. Following the 4-week supplementation period, significant decreases were observed in the patients’ IBS-SSS (−67.9%) and all the primary IBS symptoms, such as abdominal distention (−82.3%), unsatisfaction with bowel habits (−46.2%), and interference with quality of life (QoL) (−64.9%) (all p < 0.01). The patients’ stool type improved significantly. Treatment was effective in all IBS subtypes. Conclusions: Treatment with very-low-adsorbable geraniol food supplement was associated with improvements in symptoms and bowel habits in all IBS subtypes in a real-world setting in Italy. These findings support the use of geraniol as an effective option for patients with IBS regardless of the disease subtype.