Pea Protein for Bloating? New Study Says Yes!

observational-study PMID: 37923826

Pea Protein for Bloating? New Study Says Yes!

Quick Summary: A recent study found that a combination of pea protein and xyloglucan helped reduce bloating and abdominal pain in people with digestive issues. This combo worked better than a common anti-bloating medicine, simethicone, and was safe for use.

What The Research Found

This research looked at how well a mix of pea protein and xyloglucan (a type of fiber) worked for people with bloating and abdominal discomfort. The study showed that this combination:

Reduced bloating and pain faster than simethicone, a common over-the-counter gas relief medicine.
Shrank abdominal girth (waist size) by an average of 4.7 cm after 20 days, compared to only 1.8 cm with simethicone.
Showed potential to reduce SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), a condition linked to bloating, based on breath tests.
Was safe, with no reported side effects.

Study Details

Who was studied: 88 adults experiencing bloating and abdominal discomfort.
How long: The study lasted for 20 days.
What they took: Participants took either a combination of pea protein and xyloglucan or simethicone, three times a day.

What This Means For You

If you often feel bloated or have abdominal pain, this research suggests that a product containing pea protein and xyloglucan might help. It could offer faster relief and potentially address the underlying causes of your discomfort. Talk to your doctor about whether this option is right for you.

Consider talking to your doctor about this research and whether this combination could be a good option for your bloating.
Look for products that combine pea protein and xyloglucan.
Track your symptoms to see if you notice a difference.

Study Limitations

It's important to remember:

This study focused on a specific combination of pea protein and xyloglucan, so results may vary with other products.
More research is needed to fully understand how pea protein and xyloglucan work to reduce bloating.
The exact dosages of pea protein and xyloglucan were not specified in the summary.

Key Findings

The study found that a combination of pea protein (PP) and xyloglucan (XG) significantly reduced abdominal bloating, pain, and girth in patients with functional abdominal bloating/distension (FABD) compared to simethicone. The XG+PP group showed faster symptom relief and a 4.7 cm average reduction in abdominal girth after 20 days (vs. 1.8 cm with simethicone). Additionally, hydrogen breath test (HBT) results improved in the XG+PP group, suggesting a potential reduction in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). No adverse events were reported, confirming safety.

Study Design

This was a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 88 adults with FABD, randomly assigned 1:1 to XG+PP or simethicone. The intervention lasted 20 consecutive days. The primary outcome was safety, while secondary outcomes included symptom severity (bloating, pain) and SIBO reduction via HBT. The study was published in 2024 in Nutrients (based on PubMed ID).

Dosage & Administration

Participants received either XG+PP or simethicone orally three times daily for 20 days. The exact doses of pea protein or xyloglucan were not specified in the summary, though the product was standardized.

Results & Efficacy

Safety: No adverse events or serious adverse reactions in either group.
Symptom Relief: XG+PP demonstrated faster onset of action and significantly greater reductions in bloating and abdominal pain versus simethicone (p < 0.05, unspecified exact values).
Abdominal Girth: At Day 20, XG+PP reduced girth by 4