Skip to content
Winnowleaf home

Condition

Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)

IBS-C is a long-term gut disorder in which recurring abdominal pain comes with hard, infrequent stools, shaped by close signaling between gut and brain. Psyllium fiber and peppermint oil have strong evidence behind them, while in large trials linaclotide and plecanatide helped about 30 to 34 percent of people reach pain and bowel goals, versus 14 to 21 percent on placebo. Those results come from drugs, so they don't show what supplements do.

Sources: PMID 29380823; PMID 29545635

Supplements studied
0
Medicines and peptides
2
Graded outcomes
4
No supplement studies yetWe haven’t found supplement studies for Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C). The medicines and peptides studied for it are listed below.

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use.

2 medicines and peptides

Linaclotide (Linzess): outcomes studied for Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
FDA Responder Rate IBS-C

Phase 3: 33.6-33.7% FDA responders vs 13.9-21.0% placebo (P<0.0001). Dual endpoint: ≥30% pain improvement + ≥1 CSBM increase for ≥50% of weeks. Effect maintained over 26 weeks.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect20 studies
Abdominal Pain Relief

Significant improvement in worst abdominal pain scores vs placebo. Pain relief observed within first week. cGMP-mediated visceral analgesia independent of bowel effects. No rebound worsening on discontinuation.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect15 studies
Plecanatide (Trulance): outcomes studied for Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Overall Response IBS-C

Phase 3: 30.2% overall responders (3mg) vs 17.8% placebo (P<0.001). Dual endpoint: ≥30% pain reduction + ≥1 CSBM increase for ≥6 of 12 weeks. Consistent across two identical trials (n=2,189).

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect5 studies
Abdominal Pain IBS-C

Significant reduction in worst abdominal pain vs placebo. ≥30% improvement in pain required for FDA responder endpoint. cGMP-mediated visceral analgesia mechanism.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect5 studies

Key findings

  • FDA Responder Rate IBS-CLinaclotide (Linzess)Improves (the measure goes up)
  • Abdominal Pain ReliefLinaclotide (Linzess)Improves (the measure goes down)
  • Overall Response IBS-CPlecanatide (Trulance)Improves (the measure goes up)

The Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C) Supportive Care protocol

2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements

  • Psyllium Fiber5–10 g daily in divided doses, gradually increased; with plenty of water
  • Probiotics10–50 billion CFU daily (Bifidobacterium infantis 35,624, B. lactis DN-173 010)

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Fullscript collectionGut and digestion: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure

Studies cited

27 studies from PubMed

  1. Linaclotide combined with polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation in colonoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Surgical endoscopy, 2026 · PMID 41168471
  2. Combined linaclotide and polyethylene glycol electrolyte for colonoscopy preparation: a network meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials.International journal of colorectal disease, 2025 · PMID 40528061
  3. Management of Chronic Constipation: A Comprehensive Review.Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 2025 · PMID 37952945
  4. Comparative profiles of lubiprostone, linaclotide, and elobixibat for chronic constipation: a systematic literature review with meta-analysis and number needed to treat/harm.BMC gastroenterology, 2024 · PMID 38166671
  5. Effects of linaclotide in the treatment of chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a meta-analysis.Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie, 2022 · PMID 34215016
  6. The Effect of Acid Suppression Therapy on the Safety and Efficacy of Plecanatide: Analysis of Randomized Phase III TrialsJ Clin Gastroenterol, 2022 · PMID 35086735
  7. Efficacy and safety of linaclotide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: Chinese sub-cohort analysis of a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2022 · PMID 35019221
  8. Systematic review and network meta-analysis: efficacy of licensed drugs for abdominal bloating in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2021 · PMID 34114657
  9. Bisacodyl: A review of pharmacology and clinical evidence to guide use in clinical practice in patients with constipation.Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2021 · PMID 33751780
  10. Efficacy of Linaclotide in Reducing Abdominal Symptoms of Bloating, Discomfort, and Pain: A Phase 3B Trial Using a Novel Abdominal Scoring SystemAm J Gastroenterol, 2021 · PMID 34465695
  11. Evaluation of Plecanatide for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation in Patients 65 Years or OlderClin Transl Gastroenterol, 2020 · PMID 32660770
  12. Efficacy of drugs in chronic idiopathic constipation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.The lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatology, 2019 · PMID 31474542
  13. Safety and tolerability of linaclotide for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: pooled Phase 3 analysisExpert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2019 · PMID 30791771
  14. Efficacy of Secretagogues in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Gastroenterology, 2018 · PMID 30144426
  15. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of plecanatide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: results of two phase 3 randomized clinical trialsAm J Gastroenterol, 2018 · PMID 29545635
  16. Efficacy and Tolerability of Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonists for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAm J Gastroenterol, 2018 · PMID 29380823
  17. Formulary Drug Reviews: Plecanatide.Hospital pharmacy, 2017 · PMID 29276262
  18. Review article: Linaclotide for the management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2014 · PMID 24433216
  19. Effect of linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2014 · PMID 24351035
  20. Linaclotide: a review of its use in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Drugs, 2014 · PMID 24293117
  21. Linaclotide: a novel therapy for chronic constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndromeUnited European Gastroenterol J, 2014 · PMID 24683372
  22. Effects of linaclotide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic constipation: a meta-analysis.Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 2013 · PMID 23644388
  23. A review of the clinical efficacy of linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Current medical research and opinion, 2013 · PMID 23198977
  24. Linaclotide, novel therapy for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndromeAdv Ther, 2013 · PMID 23436110
  25. Randomised clinical trials: linaclotide phase 3 studies in IBS-C - a prespecified further analysis based on European Medicines Agency-specified endpointsAliment Pharmacol Ther, 2013 · PMID 23116208
  26. A 12-week, randomized, controlled trial with a 4-week randomized withdrawal period to evaluate the efficacy and safety of linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipationAm J Gastroenterol, 2012 · PMID 22986440
  27. Linaclotide for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a 26-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate efficacy and safetyAm J Gastroenterol, 2012 · PMID 22986437