{"id":604649161010,"title":"IBgard Review: Digestive Relief or Waste of Money?","created_at":"2023-01-20T23:36:03-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"IBgard Review: Digestive Relief or Waste of Money?\",\n \"keywords\": \"ibgard, ibgard review, ibgard reviews, ibgard side effects, ibgard ingredients, ibgard cvs, ibgard dosage, side effects of ibgard, ibgard walgreens, ibgard walmart, ibgard for ibs, ibgard capsules, ibgard peppermint oil, ibgard target, ibgard amazon\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the ingredients in IBgard to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to be effective for relieving digestive discomfort or if it's a waste of money. We highlight three questionable additive ingredients and explain why IBgard's manufacturer was recently sued.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/ibgard-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Auren Weinberg\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/auren-weinberg\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/aurenweinberg\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"pharmaceutical medication, medicine, OTC drugs, medical research, clinical trials, generic drugs, branded drugs, dietary supplements, chemistry, health, wellness, healthcare\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"Haverford College\",\n \"University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry\",\n \"Fox School of Business at Temple University\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/IBgard_Thumbnail.png?v=1674276386\",\n\"width\": \"3089\",\n\"height\": \"3089\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5814329\/\", \n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31470006\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.efsa.europa.eu\/en\/news\/titanium-dioxide-e171-no-longer-considered-safe-when-used-food-additive\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4729798\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.classaction.org\/news\/ibgard-falsely-advertised-as-clinically-proven-class-action-claims\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4352178\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6769995\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20141583\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34638031\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/pmid\/34833893\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"peppermint oil\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"IBS\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"titanium dioxide\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Nestlé Health Sciences\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Classaction.org\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FDA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"CVS\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walgreens\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Target\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-01-20\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/IBgard_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1674275604\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eI\u003c\/span\u003eBgard is a gut health supplement that’s used to treat a number of gastrointestinal symptoms. The brand claims that their supplement helps manage cramping, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, gas and more.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut what’s actually in IBgard, and are the active ingredients proven to enhance gut health, or are these just marketing claims? Does the supplement contain any questionable additive ingredients? Does it cause side effects? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of IBgard?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in IBgard based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also share our thoughts on whether or not it’s likely to cause side effects, and highlight real, unsponsored user reviews of the product.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"IBgard ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/IBgard_Ingredients.png?v=1674275621\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePeppermint oil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is the only active ingredient in IBgard, at a dosage of 180 milligrams (mg).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis ingredient is a well-studied botanical treatment for stomach and digestive ailments. A 2018 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5814329\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that peppermint oil had a number of biological mechanisms that can help heal the gut and relieve digestive symptoms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSpecifically, peppermint oil can relax smooth muscles, has anti-inflammatory activity and is antimicrobial. The study authors concluded that clinical trials “support its use” in treatment of digestive issues.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePeppermint oil is so effective for digestive disorders that it’s even being studied for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31470006\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGastroenterology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that peppermint oil which was formulated to release in the intestines rather than the stomach (like IBgard) caused significant reductions in abdominal pain and overall discomfort.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhile we consider the active ingredient in IBgard likely to be effective for relieving digestive symptoms, the supplement also contains a number of questionable additive ingredients that health-conscious consumers may wish to avoid.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitanium dioxide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a colorant which \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.efsa.europa.eu\/en\/news\/titanium-dioxide-e171-no-longer-considered-safe-when-used-food-additive\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eis banned\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e in the E.U. for use as a food additive due to toxicity concerns.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYellow 5\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGreen 3\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e are artificial food dyes. As we documented in our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/metamucil-review\"\u003eMetamucil review\u003c\/a\u003e, clinical studies have documented toxicity concerns with all food dyes currently approved for use in the U.S.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we consider IBgard likely to be effective for digestive symptom relief, but we do not recommend the supplement due to the inclusion of three questionable additive ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes IBgard Cause Side Effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnlike the majority of dietary supplements we review on Illuminate Health, IBgard has actually been studied in legitimate clinical research, which makes it easier to assess the risk of side effects than based on ingredients alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4729798\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDigestive Diseases and Sciences\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal tested the effects of IBgard on patients with IBS and reported on side effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNo serious adverse effects were noted, and the group taking placebo pills actually experienced more side effects than the group taking IBgard capsules. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis suggests that IBgard is unlikely to cause any side effects.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider this to be a major benefit of IBgard compared to other over-the-counter (OTC) digestive treatments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored IBgard User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named Whitney claims that IBgard significantly improved her gastrointestinal health and quality-of-life:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JBH-w9Meriw\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok user named Amanda Friedman claims that IBgard improved her bloating and included before-and-after images:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote style=\"max-width: 375px; min-width: 325px;\" data-video-id=\"6997782596428008710\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@amandafriedz\/video\/6997782596428008710\" class=\"tiktok-embed\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@amandafriedz?refer=embed\" title=\"@amandafriedz\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e@amandafriedz\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/fyp?refer=embed\" title=\"fyp\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#fyp\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/fyp%E3%82%B7?refer=embed\" title=\"fypシ\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#fypシ\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/fypage?refer=embed\" title=\"fypage\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#fypage\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/ibs?refer=embed\" title=\"ibs\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#ibs\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/ibscheck?refer=embed\" title=\"ibscheck\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#ibscheck\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/ibstiktok?refer=embed\" title=\"ibstiktok\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#ibstiktok\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/ibstips?refer=embed\" title=\"ibstips\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#ibstips\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/tummyproblems?refer=embed\" title=\"tummyproblems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#tummyproblems\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/ibsproblems?refer=embed\" title=\"ibsproblems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#ibsproblems\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/stomachproblems?refer=embed\" title=\"stomachproblems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#stomachproblems\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/stomach?refer=embed\" title=\"stomach\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#stomach\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/medicine?refer=embed\" title=\"medicine\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#medicine\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/medicinetips?refer=embed\" title=\"medicinetips\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#medicinetips\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/gutproblems?refer=embed\" title=\"gutproblems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#gutproblems\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/gut?refer=embed\" title=\"gut\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#gut\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-6997782436696443653?refer=embed\" title=\"♬ original sound - Amanda Friedman\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e♬ original sound - Amanda Friedman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\" async=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy Was IBgard’s Manufacturer Sued?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn 2021, Nestlé Health Sciences (the manufacturer of IBgard) was sued in a class-action lawsuit alleging false advertising, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.classaction.org\/news\/ibgard-falsely-advertised-as-clinically-proven-class-action-claims\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eaccording to\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e ClassAction.org.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe subject of the lawsuit was the brand’s claims that their supplement is “clinically proven” to relieve symptoms of IBS. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe plaintiffs claim that there were methodological issues with the clinical studies funded by Nestlé, and that it’s misleading for the brand to make this health claim.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe lawsuit also disputes the description (at the time) of IBgard as a “medical food,” because the FDA has not published any specific nutritional requirements for patients with IBS that are different from nutritional requirements of healthy patients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of publishing this article, it’s unclear if this lawsuit is ongoing or if it’s been settled.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWe do not consider this lawsuit to pose any legitimate concerns that should worry consumers.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e It’s mostly regarding semantic distinctions and we would actually agree with Nestlés claims in this case, because this supplement has been found to have favorable effects in legitimate clinical trials published in peer-reviewed medical journals.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy IBgard for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIBgard is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s the price breakdown for the 48-count product at the time of updating this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCVS: $37.49 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cvs.com\/shop\/ibgard-daily-gut-health-support-capsules-prodid-1011873?skuId=998723\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalgreens: $34.99 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/store\/c\/ibgard-ibs-treatment-capsules\/ID=prod6290510-product\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $32 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/IBgard-Daily-Gut-Health-Support-Dietary-Supplement-48-Capsules\/55484469\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTarget: $30.99 (plus shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.target.com\/p\/ibgard-daily-gut-health-support-dietary-supplement-48ct\/-\/A-52514751\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e$27.44\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e (free shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Hkik2D\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIBGard is currently almost 40% cheaper on Amazon than at CVS when factoring in shipping fees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Gut Health Picks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Gut_Health_Image_19a57227-492b-4476-acdc-34a38dacf12a.png?v=1695666299\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/activation.healthline.com\/api\/member-offers\/8571\/redirect?lp=328\u0026amp;tc=120226\u0026amp;subid=rvosubaff_illuminatelabs\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eMBG Organic Fiber Potency+\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is our top fiber pick because it's certified organic, provides 7 g of fiber per serving and costs \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eunder $1.85 per serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e at the time of updating this article.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMBG Organic Fiber Potency+\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003econtains 100% soluble fiber, which was described as \"one of the most important nutrients for the gut microbiota\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/pmid\/34833893\/\"\u003eclinical review\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epublished in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eMolecules\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ejournal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/0JgZvV\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBulletproof Express 3-in-1 Probiotic\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e is our top value probiotic supplement, because it costs\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $1.20 per serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat the time of updating this article.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProbiotics \"\u003cspan\u003ecan improve in the immune, gastrointestinal...health systems in healthy adults\" according to a 2019 \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29581563\/\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vsl3.pxf.io\/21eP1A\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eVSL#3\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top premium probiotic pick, because this probiotic supplement has been studied in 25 clinical trials, and a 2020\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7190945\/\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eon VSL#3 concluded the following:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"...\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003emany studies demonstrated that VSL#3 has a beneficial effect on obesity and diabetes, allergic diseases, nervous systemic diseases, AS, bone diseases, and female reproductive systemic diseases.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy or unsafe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Rate IBgard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. IBgard has been reviewed over 14,000 times on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Matteo” who claims the supplement has helped with IBS symptoms:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“I recently purchased this product to help with my IBS and I am blown away by the results! After just a few days of use, I noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms. The bloating and abdominal pain that had been plaguing me for years have nearly disappeared.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “A. Reader” who claims an alternative product was superior:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“I took it before lunch. Lunch time, good! Post-lunch... uh-oh. Not so good. The discomfort is coming back. Let's have another IBgard. Waiting, waiting, waiting. No relief. None!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e I took a Heather's Peppermint Oil and poof! Within 5 minutes, no discomfort. No reflux. Nothing but relief! Heather's is working for me again! Yay, Heather!”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIBgard is a well-formulated dietary supplement and we believe that it’s likely to relieve digestive symptoms. The manufacturer of this product has funded clinical trials showing it to be effective, and also showing that the supplement does not cause side effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not currently recommend IBgard due to the inclusion of a coloring ingredient that’s banned in the E.U. over safety concerns, and due to the inclusion of two artificial colors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOnline reviews of IBgard are relatively favorable, and either Walmart or Amazon currently has the best prices on the supplement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIBgard was sued in 2021 over claims of false advertising, though we don’t find the lawsuit to bring to light any information that should be of concern to consumers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-01-20T23:50:26-05:00","updated_at":"2024-02-24T12:54:37-05:00","summary_html":"We review the ingredients in IBgard to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to be effective for relieving digestive discomfort or if it's a waste of money. We highlight three questionable additive ingredients and explain why IBgard's manufacturer was recently sued.","template_suffix":"","handle":"ibgard-review","tags":"_related:gut-health, _related:IBS"}

IBgard Review: Digestive Relief or Waste of Money?

IBgard Review: Digestive Relief or Waste of Money?


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IBgard is a gut health supplement that’s used to treat a number of gastrointestinal symptoms. The brand claims that their supplement helps manage cramping, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, gas and more.

But what’s actually in IBgard, and are the active ingredients proven to enhance gut health, or are these just marketing claims? Does the supplement contain any questionable additive ingredients? Does it cause side effects? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of IBgard?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in IBgard based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective. 

We’ll also share our thoughts on whether or not it’s likely to cause side effects, and highlight real, unsponsored user reviews of the product.

Ingredient Analysis

IBgard ingredients

Peppermint oil is the only active ingredient in IBgard, at a dosage of 180 milligrams (mg).

This ingredient is a well-studied botanical treatment for stomach and digestive ailments. A 2018 medical review found that peppermint oil had a number of biological mechanisms that can help heal the gut and relieve digestive symptoms.

Specifically, peppermint oil can relax smooth muscles, has anti-inflammatory activity and is antimicrobial. The study authors concluded that clinical trials “support its use” in treatment of digestive issues.

Peppermint oil is so effective for digestive disorders that it’s even being studied for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

A clinical trial published in the Gastroenterology journal found that peppermint oil which was formulated to release in the intestines rather than the stomach (like IBgard) caused significant reductions in abdominal pain and overall discomfort.

While we consider the active ingredient in IBgard likely to be effective for relieving digestive symptoms, the supplement also contains a number of questionable additive ingredients that health-conscious consumers may wish to avoid.

Titanium dioxide is a colorant which is banned in the E.U. for use as a food additive due to toxicity concerns.

Yellow 5 and Green 3 are artificial food dyes. As we documented in our Metamucil review, clinical studies have documented toxicity concerns with all food dyes currently approved for use in the U.S.

Overall we consider IBgard likely to be effective for digestive symptom relief, but we do not recommend the supplement due to the inclusion of three questionable additive ingredients.

Does IBgard Cause Side Effects?

Unlike the majority of dietary supplements we review on Illuminate Health, IBgard has actually been studied in legitimate clinical research, which makes it easier to assess the risk of side effects than based on ingredients alone.

A clinical trial published in the Digestive Diseases and Sciences journal tested the effects of IBgard on patients with IBS and reported on side effects.

No serious adverse effects were noted, and the group taking placebo pills actually experienced more side effects than the group taking IBgard capsules. This suggests that IBgard is unlikely to cause any side effects.

We consider this to be a major benefit of IBgard compared to other over-the-counter (OTC) digestive treatments.

Real, Unsponsored IBgard User Reviews

A YouTube creator named Whitney claims that IBgard significantly improved her gastrointestinal health and quality-of-life:

A TikTok user named Amanda Friedman claims that IBgard improved her bloating and included before-and-after images:

@amandafriedz #fyp #fypシ #fypage #ibs #ibscheck #ibstiktok #ibstips #tummyproblems #ibsproblems #stomachproblems #stomach #medicine #medicinetips #gutproblems #gut ♬ original sound - Amanda Friedman

Why Was IBgard’s Manufacturer Sued?

In 2021, Nestlé Health Sciences (the manufacturer of IBgard) was sued in a class-action lawsuit alleging false advertising, according to ClassAction.org.

The subject of the lawsuit was the brand’s claims that their supplement is “clinically proven” to relieve symptoms of IBS. The plaintiffs claim that there were methodological issues with the clinical studies funded by Nestlé, and that it’s misleading for the brand to make this health claim.

The lawsuit also disputes the description (at the time) of IBgard as a “medical food,” because the FDA has not published any specific nutritional requirements for patients with IBS that are different from nutritional requirements of healthy patients.

At the time of publishing this article, it’s unclear if this lawsuit is ongoing or if it’s been settled.

We do not consider this lawsuit to pose any legitimate concerns that should worry consumers. It’s mostly regarding semantic distinctions and we would actually agree with Nestlés claims in this case, because this supplement has been found to have favorable effects in legitimate clinical trials published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Where to Buy IBgard for the Best Price

IBgard is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s the price breakdown for the 48-count product at the time of updating this article:

CVS: $37.49 (link)

Walgreens: $34.99 (link)

Walmart: $32 (link)

Target: $30.99 (plus shipping, link)

Amazon: $27.44 (free shippinglink to official Amazon listing)

IBGard is currently almost 40% cheaper on Amazon than at CVS when factoring in shipping fees.

Our Clean Gut Health Picks

MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our top fiber pick because it's certified organic, provides 7 g of fiber per serving and costs under $1.85 per serving at the time of updating this article.

MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ contains 100% soluble fiber, which was described as "one of the most important nutrients for the gut microbiota" in a clinical review published in the Molecules journal.

Bulletproof Express 3-in-1 Probiotic is our top value probiotic supplement, because it costs only $1.20 per serving at the time of updating this article.

Probiotics "can improve in the immune, gastrointestinal...health systems in healthy adults" according to a 2019 medical review.

VSL#3 is our top premium probiotic pick, because this probiotic supplement has been studied in 25 clinical trials, and a 2020 meta-study on VSL#3 concluded the following:

"...many studies demonstrated that VSL#3 has a beneficial effect on obesity and diabetes, allergic diseases, nervous systemic diseases, AS, bone diseases, and female reproductive systemic diseases."

All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy or unsafe.

Real Customers Rate IBgard

Amazon is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. IBgard has been reviewed over 14,000 times on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Matteo” who claims the supplement has helped with IBS symptoms:

“I recently purchased this product to help with my IBS and I am blown away by the results! After just a few days of use, I noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms. The bloating and abdominal pain that had been plaguing me for years have nearly disappeared.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “A. Reader” who claims an alternative product was superior:

“I took it before lunch. Lunch time, good! Post-lunch... uh-oh. Not so good. The discomfort is coming back. Let's have another IBgard. Waiting, waiting, waiting. No relief. None! I took a Heather's Peppermint Oil and poof! Within 5 minutes, no discomfort. No reflux. Nothing but relief! Heather's is working for me again! Yay, Heather!”

Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

IBgard is a well-formulated dietary supplement and we believe that it’s likely to relieve digestive symptoms. The manufacturer of this product has funded clinical trials showing it to be effective, and also showing that the supplement does not cause side effects.

We do not currently recommend IBgard due to the inclusion of a coloring ingredient that’s banned in the E.U. over safety concerns, and due to the inclusion of two artificial colors.

Online reviews of IBgard are relatively favorable, and either Walmart or Amazon currently has the best prices on the supplement.

IBgard was sued in 2021 over claims of false advertising, though we don’t find the lawsuit to bring to light any information that should be of concern to consumers.




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