Assessment of the Efficacy of a Highly Standardized Ginger and Perilla Nutraceutical (Dispepril®) in Improving Gastric and Intestinal Symptoms in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by chronic or recurrent upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of an identifiable organic cause. Typical symptoms include postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, epigastric burning, upper abdominal bloating, belching, nausea, and heartburn. FD is associated with impaired quality of life and significant healthcare burden.

Current management strategies include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), eradication of Helicobacter pylori when present, and prokinetic therapies. However, treatment efficacy is often limited, and long-term pharmacological therapy may be associated with adverse effects.

Dispepril® is a food supplement containing a highly standardized extract of Zingiber officinale titrated in gingerols and shogaols together with a patented bi-fractionated extract of Perilla frutescens. Ginger has been reported to normalize gastric emptying and improve dyspeptic symptoms, while perilla may exert prokinetic and anti-dyspeptic effects through actions on gastrointestinal motility.

This multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial will evaluate the efficacy of Dispepril® in adults diagnosed with functional dyspepsia according to Rome IV criteria. Approximately 400 participants will be enrolled and randomized in a 2:1:1 ratio into one of three treatment groups:

Dispepril® alone (two gastro-protected tablets daily for 14 days); Half-dose PPI once daily plus Dispepril® (two tablets daily for 14 days); Full-dose PPI once daily for 14 days.