Effects of an 8-Week Multi-Herbal Supplement (DigestiStart) on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Gut Microbiota in Adults

This independent, 8-week open-label pilot study evaluated the effects of DigestiStart, a multi-herbal dietary supplement, on gastrointestinal symptoms and gut microbiota composition in adults with mild digestive discomfort. Thirty participants consumed one 500 mg capsule daily, with outcomes assessed using validated symptom scales, stool parameters, inflammatory markers, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples. Results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in overall gastrointestinal symptom burden, driven primarily by improvements in bloating and indigestion, alongside normalization of stool frequency in participants with baseline constipation. While markers of intestinal inflammation and stool consistency remained unchanged, microbiome analysis revealed a modest but significant increase in bacterial alpha-diversity and a higher relative abundance of the genus Bacteroides, suggesting a potential prebiotic or microbiota-modulating effect. Although limited by its single-arm design and small sample size, these findings provide preliminary human evidence that DigestiStart may support digestive comfort through symptom relief and subtle gut microbiome modulation, warranting confirmation in larger randomized, placebo-controlled trials.