An antiflatulent (or deflatulent) agent is a drug used for the alleviation or prevention of excessive intestinal gas, i.e.,
flatulence.
Mechanisms of action
Preventing gas
Enzymes –
Enzyme-based
dietary supplements break down indigestible substances and prevent these substances from reaching the
large intestine intact – where anaerobic
bacteria produce gas. Substances indigestible by humans are usually present in foods associated with flatulence, like
beans. When these substances reach the large intestine intact, they may be fermented by intestinal bacteria, thereby causing gas production. These supplements are usually taken with foods associated with flatulence. It is important to take the appropriate enzyme with the appropriate food. When consuming beans and other vegetables high in
complex carbohydrates, it may be helpful to take a product that contains
alpha-galactosidase, such as
Beano[citation needed] or
kombu.[1] Additionally, for individuals with
lactose intolerance, taking a
lactase-containing product with
lactose-containing foodstuffs may reduce flatulence.[citation needed]
Herbal inhibitors – Many herbal substances have been observed since antiquity for reducing flatulence, particularly gas from eating
legumes.
Cloves,
nutmeg,
cinnamon, and
garlic are potent in reducing gas.[citation needed] The potency of garlic increases when heated, whereas the potency of cinnamon decreases. Other spices have a lesser effect in reducing gas, including
turmeric,
black pepper,
asafoetida and
ginger. Other common Indian spices,
cumin,
aniseed,
ajowan, and
cardamom do not inhibit gas production, in fact they exacerbate it significantly.[2][failed verification]
Relieving gas
For the alleviation of flatulence, an antifoaming agent such as
simethicone may be taken orally. This agent will coalesce the smaller gas bubbles into larger bubbles, thereby easing the release of gas within the
gastrointestinal tract via
burping or flatulence.
Classification
Antifoaming agents
Simethicone (also marketed under the name "Gas-X" in some countries)
^Bakunina, I. Yu; Nedashkovskaya, O. I; Kim, S. B; Zvyagintseva, T. N; Mikhailov, V. V (2012). "Diversity of glycosidase activities in the bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes isolated from marine algae". Microbiology. 81 (6): 688–695.
doi:
10.1134/S0026261712060033.
S2CID14531224.
^S. K. GARG, A. C. BANERJEA, J. VERMA. and M. J. ABRAHAM, EFFECT OF VARIOUS TREATMENTS OF PULSES ON IN VITRO GAS PRODUCTION BY SELECTED INTESTINAL CLOSTRIDIA. Journal of Food Science, Volume 45, Issue 6 (p 1601-1602).
An antiflatulent (or deflatulent) agent is a drug used for the alleviation or prevention of excessive intestinal gas, i.e.,
flatulence.
Mechanisms of action
Preventing gas
Enzymes –
Enzyme-based
dietary supplements break down indigestible substances and prevent these substances from reaching the
large intestine intact – where anaerobic
bacteria produce gas. Substances indigestible by humans are usually present in foods associated with flatulence, like
beans. When these substances reach the large intestine intact, they may be fermented by intestinal bacteria, thereby causing gas production. These supplements are usually taken with foods associated with flatulence. It is important to take the appropriate enzyme with the appropriate food. When consuming beans and other vegetables high in
complex carbohydrates, it may be helpful to take a product that contains
alpha-galactosidase, such as
Beano[citation needed] or
kombu.[1] Additionally, for individuals with
lactose intolerance, taking a
lactase-containing product with
lactose-containing foodstuffs may reduce flatulence.[citation needed]
Herbal inhibitors – Many herbal substances have been observed since antiquity for reducing flatulence, particularly gas from eating
legumes.
Cloves,
nutmeg,
cinnamon, and
garlic are potent in reducing gas.[citation needed] The potency of garlic increases when heated, whereas the potency of cinnamon decreases. Other spices have a lesser effect in reducing gas, including
turmeric,
black pepper,
asafoetida and
ginger. Other common Indian spices,
cumin,
aniseed,
ajowan, and
cardamom do not inhibit gas production, in fact they exacerbate it significantly.[2][failed verification]
Relieving gas
For the alleviation of flatulence, an antifoaming agent such as
simethicone may be taken orally. This agent will coalesce the smaller gas bubbles into larger bubbles, thereby easing the release of gas within the
gastrointestinal tract via
burping or flatulence.
Classification
Antifoaming agents
Simethicone (also marketed under the name "Gas-X" in some countries)
^Bakunina, I. Yu; Nedashkovskaya, O. I; Kim, S. B; Zvyagintseva, T. N; Mikhailov, V. V (2012). "Diversity of glycosidase activities in the bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes isolated from marine algae". Microbiology. 81 (6): 688–695.
doi:
10.1134/S0026261712060033.
S2CID14531224.
^S. K. GARG, A. C. BANERJEA, J. VERMA. and M. J. ABRAHAM, EFFECT OF VARIOUS TREATMENTS OF PULSES ON IN VITRO GAS PRODUCTION BY SELECTED INTESTINAL CLOSTRIDIA. Journal of Food Science, Volume 45, Issue 6 (p 1601-1602).