Scholarly Literature On Flatulence

Here are a selection of articles written by Scholars on the subject of Flatulence. The literature has not been altered and contains full accreditation. 

Bloating and intestinal gas.

• Jones MP.

Division of Gastroenterology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 251 East Huron Street, Galter Pavilion 4-104, Chicago, IL 60611-2908, USA. mpjones@nmh.org

The most common symptoms associated with intestinal gas are eructation, flatulence, abdominal bloating, and distention. Aerophagia is an uncommon cause of eructation in which repetitive air swallowing results in belching, abdominal distention, and increased flatus. Few therapies have been shown to be effective in treating these symptoms. Eructation can be treated by decreasing excessive air swallowing. Occasionally, behavioral therapy and psychotherapy are employed. Bloating, distention, and other gas-related symptoms are common in functional gastrointestinal disorders; however, their pathophysiology is poorly understood. Additionally, evidence supporting the use of various available therapies in treating gas-related symptoms is either absent or poor. Dietary therapy may be effective in patients with excessive gas production. Excessive gas production, identified by increased flatus, may benefit from a low-carbohydrate diet. Many patients with gas-related symptoms have normal gas production but may have either impaired gas transport or transit through the gut or visceral hypersensitivity. Few studies have addressed the treatment of impaired gas transport.

PMID: 16009032 [PubMed]

---------------------------------------------------------

Flatulence--causes, relation to diet and remedies.

Price KR, Lewis J, Wyatt GM, Fenwick GR.

Institute of Food Research, Norwich Laboratory, UK.

In addition to causing embarrassment and unease, flatulence is linked to a variety of symptoms, some of which may be distressing. This review describes the origins of intestinal gas, its composition and methods which have been developed for its analysis. Emphasis is placed upon the effects of legumes in the diet in producing excessive intestinal gas and, particularly, on the role of raffinose-type oligosaccharides, containing alpha-galactosidic groupings. Suggestions for overcoming the problem are presented, including drug treatment, enzyme treatment, food processing and plant breeding. It is emphasised that removal of all raffinose-oligosaccharides from beans does not remove the problem of flatulence in animals and man; the compounds responsible--though assumed to be polysaccharides (or polysaccharide-derived oligomers formed by processing or cooking)--have yet to be characterised.

---------------------------------------------------------