Condition
Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS)
Short bowel syndrome means too little working small intestine remains, so the body struggles to absorb food, fluid and nutrients. Evidence is strongest for teduglutide, and reviews of 16 studies found many people needed less intravenous nutrition or fluid support, with 74% reaching at least a fifth less after two years. Colostrum's evidence is limited: one small trial of eight people found improved muscle mass.
Sources: PMID 25883117; PMID 35215445; PMID 22828734
- Supplements studied
- 1
- Medicines and peptides
- 1
- Graded outcomes
- 6
- Trials
- 1
- People studied
- 8
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Mass Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | 8 people | ||
Studies that measured muscle mass | ||||||
| Weight | Improves (the measure goes down) | 5 studies | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured weight
| ||||||
Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context
Teduglutide (Gattex)
- Parenteral Support Reduction: improves
- Parenteral Nutrition Independence: improves
- Intestinal Absorption: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parenteral Support Reduction 74% achieved 20%+ PS volume reduction at 2 years. Real-world: 36.6% reduction at 48 weeks, up to 79.3% reduction after 1 year. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Large effect | 16 studies | |||
| Parenteral Nutrition Independence 10-26% of patients achieved complete parenteral nutrition independence (enteral autonomy) with teduglutide treatment. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 16 studies | |||
| Intestinal Absorption Significant improvement in intestinal wet weight absorption capacity demonstrated in acute and chronic studies. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 16 studies | |||
| Treatment Response Rate 65% response rate in Phase III clinical trials. Response defined as 20% reduction or 1-day reduction in parenteral support. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 15 studies | |||
| Infusion Days per Week Significant reduction in required parenteral infusion days per week, improving quality of life and reducing catheter-related complications. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 14 studies |
Key findings
- Muscle MassImproves (the measure goes up)
The Short Bowel Syndrome protocol
1 primary supplement · 3 supporting supplements
- Glutamine15–30 g daily (divided doses)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
74 studies from PubMed
- Safety of Teduglutide for Managing Patients with Short Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
- Efficacy and safety of glucagon-like peptide 2 in patients with short bowel syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
- Teduglutide improves liver chemistries in short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure: Post hoc analysis.
- Adult patients with short bowel syndrome treated with teduglutide: A descriptive cohort study
- Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of teduglutide in adult Japanese patients with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure: two phase III studies with an extension.
- Efficacy and Safety of Teduglutide in Infants and Children With Short Bowel Syndrome Dependent on Parenteral Support.
- [Review of real-life teduglutide experience].
- Teduglutide in pediatric intestinal failure: A position statement of the Italian society of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition (SIGENP).
- Efficacy of Teduglutide for Parenteral Support Reduction in Patients with Short Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Use of Teduglutide in Children With Intestinal Failure: A Systematic Review.
- Safety and Efficacy of Teduglutide in Pediatric Patients With Intestinal Failure due to Short Bowel Syndrome: A 24-Week, Phase III Study.
- Teduglutide for the treatment of adults with intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome: pooled safety data from four clinical trials.
- Translation of Evidence Into Practice With Teduglutide in the Management of Adults With Intestinal Failure due to Short-Bowel Syndrome: A Review of Recent Literature.
- Teduglutide for the treatment of short bowel syndrome - a safety evaluation
- GLP-2 analog teduglutide significantly reduces need for parenteral nutrition and stool frequency in a real-life setting
- Teduglutide effectiveness in reducing parenteral support in short bowel syndrome: a prospective study
- Safety and Efficacy of Teduglutide (Gattex) in Patients With Crohn's Disease and Need for Parenteral Support Due to Short Bowel Syndrome-associated Intestinal Failure.
- Teduglutide: A Review in Short Bowel Syndrome.
- Teduglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue, in the management of patients with short bowel syndrome: an evidence-based review
- Teduglutida: revisión de su uso en el síndrome de intestino corto.
- Teduglutide for Safe Reduction of Parenteral Nutrient and/or Fluid Requirements in Adults: A Systematic Review.
- Teduglutide for the treatment of short bowel syndrome
- Gut hormones in the treatment of short-bowel syndrome and intestinal failure.
- Acute effects of the glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue, teduglutide, on intestinal adaptation in short bowel syndrome
- New approaches to the treatments of short bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure.
- Intestinal adaptation following resection.
- Pharmacologic options for intestinal rehabilitation in patients with short bowel syndrome.
- Efficacy and safety of teduglutide after 52 weeks of treatment in patients with short bowel intestinal failure
- Teduglutide enhances structural adaptation of the small intestinal mucosa in patients with short bowel syndrome.
- Teduglutide: a review of its use in the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome.
- Teduglutide reduces need for parenteral support among patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure
- Teduglutide reduces need for parenteral support among patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure.
- Teduglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-2 analog for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, including short bowel syndrome
- Clinical trial simulations in pediatric patients using realistic covariates: application to teduglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-2 analog in neonates and infants with short-bowel syndrome
- Teduglutide in intestinal adaptation and repair: light at the end of the tunnel.
- Teduglutide for the treatment of short bowel syndrome
- Teduglutide ([Gly2]GLP-2) protects small intestinal stem cells from radiation damage.
- Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on immune variables in highly trained cyclists
- IGF-I, IgA, and IgG responses to bovine colostrum supplementation during training
- Effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on serum IGF-I, IgG, hormone, and saliva IgA during training
- Randomized control trials using a tablet formulation of hyperimmune bovine colostrum to prevent diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in volunteers
- Protection by milk immunoglobulin concentrate against oral challenge with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
- Dose effects of oral bovine colostrum on physical work capacity in cyclists
- The influence of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in highly trained cyclists
- The nutriceutical bovine colostrum truncates the increase in gut permeability caused by heavy exercise in athletes
- Bovine colostrum supplementation during running training increases intestinal permeability
- Bovine colostrum supplementation during endurance running training improves recovery, but not performance
- Bovine colostrum supplementation's lack of effect on immune variables during short-term intense exercise in well-trained athletes
- Protein metabolism and strength performance after bovine colostrum supplementation
- The effects of bovine colostrum supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in active men and women
- Effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on the composition of resistance trained and untrained limbs in healthy young men
- Effect of bovine colostrum on anaerobic exercise performance and plasma insulin-like growth factor I
- The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance in elite field hockey players
- Oral bovine colostrum supplementation enhances buffer capacity but not rowing performance in elite female rowers
- Bovine colostrum supplementation does not affect plasma buffer capacity or haemoglobin content in elite female rowers
- The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on salivary IgA in distance runners
- Effect of bovine colostrum supplementation on respiratory tract mucosal defenses in swimmers
- Modulation of human humoral immune response through orally administered bovine colostrum
- Effect of a mixture of micronutrients, but not of bovine colostrum concentrate, on immune function parameters in healthy volunteers: a randomized placebo-controlled study
- A novel extract from bovine colostrum whey supports innate immune functions. II. Rapid changes in cellular immune function in humans
- Lack of prophylactic efficacy of an enteric-coated bovine hyperimmune milk product against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli challenge administered during a standard meal
- ColoPlus, a new product based on bovine colostrum, alleviates HIV-associated diarrhoea
- Effect of bovine colostrum-based food supplement in the treatment of HIV-associated diarrhea in Northern Uganda: a randomized controlled trial
- Treatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDS
- Treatment of diarrhoea in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum
- Intensification of antiretroviral therapy with raltegravir or addition of hyperimmune bovine colostrum in HIV-infected patients with suboptimal CD4+ T-cell response: a randomized controlled trial
- Randomised controlled trial of colostrum to improve intestinal function in patients with short bowel syndrome
- Health-promoting effects of bovine colostrum in Type 2 diabetic patients can reduce blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and ketones
- The effect of bovine colostrum on viral upper respiratory tract infections in children with immunoglobulin A deficiency
- Concentrated bovine colostrum protein supplementation reduces the incidence of self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection in adult males
- Use of the 'nutriceutical', bovine colostrum, for the treatment of distal colitis: results from an initial study
- A pilot study: bovine colostrum supplementation and hormonal and autonomic responses to competitive cycling
- Co-administration of the health food supplement, bovine colostrum, reduces the acute non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced increase in intestinal permeability
- [Do colostrum tablets have a symptomatic effect on sore throat?]