Effect of “Pistacia atlantica” Resin (Baneh) on Functional Dyspepsia: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Study

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common problems around the world. Pistacia atlantica has beneficial effects in gastrointestinal disorders and is used for treating functional dyspepsia in Persian Medicine. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of “Pistacia atlantica” (Baneh) on functional dyspepsia. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out on 119 patients (18 to 60 years old) with functional dyspepsia based on Rome III criteria. Subjects were randomly divided to intervention (n = 61) and placebo (n = 58) groups. Participants received capsules twice daily (500mgcapsules containing 350mgPistacia atlantica resin plus 150mgsugar in the intervention group, and 500 mg capsules containing 350 mg starch powder plus 150 mg sugar in the placebo group) for four weeks and they were followed up for one month. The intensity and frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as fullness, bloating, nausea, pain, and burning were assessed using the questionnaire on arrival, two and four weeks, and one month after the intervention. Results: Fifty-three patients in the Pistacia atlantica group and 48 patients in the placebo group completed the study. The severity and frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as early satiation nausea, pain, and burning were significantly decreased in the Pistacia atlantica group. For example, severity of early satiation was 1.670.13 in pistacia and 2.540.17 in placebo groups in eight weeks (P > 0.001) and frequency of this symptom was 2.39 0.27 and 4.41 0.34 in Pistacia and placebo groups, respectively, in eight weeks (P > 0.001), which was significantly decreased in the Pistacia group. No serious adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: This study revealed that Pistacia atlantica is significantly effective in functional dyspepsia symptoms.