A new study of randomised controlled trials comparing fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil with placebo or no treatment in adults with irritable bowel syndrome found that all three were more effective than placebo in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
However, critics say the treatment effect might have been overestimated by the lack of concealment in the allocation of the treatments. Adverse effects were not reported across studies. The trials have only compared each treatment to placebo, so it cannot be assumed that any one treatment is more effective than the others.
Ford AC, Talley NJ, Spiegel BMR, et al. Effect of fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2008; 337:a2313 ( f/t via Athens)
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