Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the subjects recruited
| High dose (n = 28) | Low dose (n = 27) | Placebo (n = 29) | P value | |
| Age (yr) | 47.5 ± 13.1 | 46.3 ± 11.6 | 46.5 ± 13.1 | NS |
| Male/female | 9/19 | 7/20 | 15/14 | NS |
| BMI | 24.7 ± 3.9 | 25.6 ± 5.1 | 26.4 ± 5.2 | NS |
| IBSQoL | 54.2 ± 16.1 | 50.6 ± 12.0 | 54.6 ± 18.5 | NS |
| VSI | 43.0 ± 13.5 | 45.5 ± 11.0 | 41.2 ± 15.3 | NS |
| Glucose (mg/dL) | 95.1 ± 13.8 | 91.9 ± 27.9 | 95.1 ± 14.5 | NS |
| Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 200.6 ± 39.6 | 200.0 ± 34.2 | 205.1 ± 30.5 | NS |
| LDL (mg/dL) | 113.0 ± 45.3 | 102.0 ± 45.6 | 108.2 ± 50.2 | NS |
| HDL (mg/dL) | 56.6 ± 35.9 | 76.0 ± 39.7 | 72.2 ± 45.5 | NS |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.79 ± 0.14 | 0.86 ± 0.12 | 0.83 ± 0.18 | NS |
| GGT (IU/L) | 18.1 ± 10.8 | 19.0 ± 9.9 | 22.1 ± 15.6 | NS |
| GOT (IU/L) | 19.6 ± 7.9 | 20.3 ± 9.5 | 18.3 ± 4.1 | NS |
| GPT (IU/L) | 21.4 ± 13.4 | 17.9 ± 6.6 | 20.1 ± 10.6 | NS |
BMI: Body mass index; IBSQoL: Irritable bowel syndrome-related quality of life; VSI: Visceral Sensitivity Index; LDL: Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL: High density lipoprotein; GGT: Gamma glutamyl aminotransferase; GOT: G glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; GPT: Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase.