Yoga for Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Randomized Controlled Trial on Yoga for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The proposed study aims to investigate the feasibility, effectiveness, and perceived benefit of a hatha yoga intervention for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared to nutrition counselling. Further, the potential of both interventions to influence the gut microbiome will be inquired.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosed by physician and confirmed by Rome III diagnostic criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
• total abdominal colectomy
• no sonographie or colonoscopy as diagnostic criterion
• stool lactoferrin > 7mg/g
• pregnancy or breast feeding
• simultaneous participation in further clinical intervention trials
• Regular yoga practice or nutrition counselling in the past 12 months
• Planned surgery in the study period
• Serious illness that would interfere with the ability to practice yoga