Gelsectan Capsules

[Aegis52]

Hi,

Has anybody had experience of using this novel agent, about which I read the other day?

I have IBS-C but mine is post-viral, but, having read the mechanism of action, apparently confirmed in serious double- blind studies, and despite the fact that it seems indicated for IBS-D sufferers, I’m tossing caution to the wind, and trying it, although relatively fairly expensive!

Best wishes

Michael

[janetmtt]

keep us posted on progress is it for C or D

[Aegis52 in reply to janetmtt]

Hello Janet. It’s intended for use by IBS-D sufferers, but has a very novel mode of action to repair the purported damage to the visceral lining of the GI tract, and as a prebiotic, to encourage a correction of dysbiosis, which, in my own case, leads me to believe that it might help me- I suffered post-viral damage to my sigmoid colon, demonstrated when I had a colonoscopy some 9 years ago, leaving me with an exquisitely sensitive sigmoid colon. I’m hoping it might be effective. Here is the link:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

Michael

[Aegis52 in reply to janetmtt]

And here is another:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

[janetmtt in reply to Aegis52]

Thank you will check these out

[xjrs]

I've not heard of this. The ingredients are:

For 1 capsule: Xylooligosaccharides (210.6 mg), Pea protein (175 mg), Grape seed extract (75 mg), Xyloglucan (100 mg), Tamarind seed polysaccharides, Vegetable magnesium stearate, Silicon dioxide.

As you say, the ingredients are prebiotic. If you suspect that you have gut bacterial imbalance as a result of the virus, prebiotics might make symptoms worse, since you are feeding dominant bad bacteria as well as the good. It's best to try a probiotic (without a prebiotic) first to help address the imbalance i.e. good bugs kicking bad bugs into touch and then trying a prebiotic (at least after a 3 month trial of the probiotic). Alflorex probiotic worked best for me and it has been scientifically studied for IBS.

[Aegis52 in reply to xjrs]

Thanks for your reply. Were it not for the associated clinical trials I would be very sceptical that the product worked. Actually, I tried two probiotics last year. Ferrocalm for 8 months which produced loose stool for the duration of treatment, and Alflorex, which I have used before. The loose stool subsided when I stopped them both, but very surprisingly and disturbingly, they completely destabilised my IBS with worse pain and bloating. I was a fierce advocate of them, but saw a interesting study on the use of prolonged probiotic on rats which produced rather surprising results. I’ll try to find the link and post it below.

I am a seasoned veteran of intractable IBS so I have tried ALL allopathic and all alternative remedies with very disappointing results.

I’ll certainly give Gelsectan a go but it’s £105 for a month’s treatment at the full dose of 2 caps bd, although the manufacturer suggests just a four week course.

Best wishes

Michael

[Aegis52 in reply to xjrs]

Here’s the link. Do read the conclusions. I appreciate that immunocompromised individuals, and those with anatomical problems associated with their bowels, need to be very circumspect with probiotics, but I think this study shows how little is really understood about their use, and possibly has rightly raised concerns.

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

Best wishes

Michael

[xjrs in reply to Aegis52]

Thanks for your comments and the link. I read the conclusion. The one that I take just has 1 strain of Bifdobaterium in a small quantity. According to Google AI, long-term supplementation with Bifidobacterium is generally considered to have anti-inflammatory effects. The study mentioned other strains and certainly more research is needed (as with everything to do with IBS).

Regarding you getting worse symptoms with probiotics, this made me think of SIBO (i.e. adding bacteria on top of bacteria in the small intestine). My gastro said that true SIBO cases are rare, but they do exist. SIBO also has a distinct set of causes that may need investigating first, more info here:

ibsresearcher.com/sibo/

As with everything to do with IBS, it is trial and error to find what works for you.

[Aegis52 in reply to xjrs]

I don’t think it’s SIBO, and the pain is specifically related to my sigmoid colon. SIBO is very unusual in “ healthy” individuals, as you suggest. I’m still mystified why the perceived adjustment symptoms were so prolonged. There are no features of IBD, and the system adjusted once I had stopped the Ferrocalm and Alflorex. I do remain very sceptical about Gelsectan being able to bring about a change in my symptoms which have been present for almost nine years. If, indeed, some degree of dysbiosis exists, the product is designed to rectify this.

Best wishes