Digestive Health Supplements

The Role of Digestive Health Supplements in Patient Care

Nearly everyone at some point experiences occasional symptoms such as gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. These issues can be uncomfortable or embarrassing, and they can seriously impact one’s quality of life.

The digestive tract is complex, with digestion of food and absorption of nutrients occurring all along the GI pathway, from the mouth to the distal colon.¹ In the upper GI, a patient may experience occasional heartburn, a result of stomach acids creeping back up the esophagus.² Further down to the intestines, it’s not uncommon to have patients complain of bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea. These symptoms may be due to any number of triggers, such as a diet lacking in fiber, an imbalance of gut microflora or an inhospitable GI environment for proper digestion.

Beyond simple digestion, there is emerging evidence around the close physiological relationship between the GI tract and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis. When this relationship is out of sync, such as when the gut is not functioning optimally, it can lead to disruption of multiple neural functions within the body, potentially resulting in neuroinflammation, mood disorders, and more.³

To support gut health, patients may benefit from a few digestive health supplement options:

• Probiotics help balance gut microflora and promote healthy digestion.^*
• Prebiotics provide food for probiotics, allowing the good bacteria to live and thrive in the gut.
• Fiber supplements help with gut motility, helping with occasional constipation and diarrhea.^*

Nestlé Health Science understands that supporting gut health and the gut-brain axis may play a role in a patient’s overall health and wellbeing.³ That’s why we have a number of digestive health supplements that have options with clinically tested ingredients and backed by research to assist with balancing the gut.^*