Hemorrhoidal disease or HD is no joke. About 40% of the adult population in North America will suffer with the condition during their lifetime.
- Essentially, it involves damage to the tissues around the anal area;
- That includes the blood vessels in the area, which can result in serious bleeding;
- Other, and more common, symptoms include itching and pain.
It can be caused by a variety of factors, including a sedentary lifestyle, old age, constipation and inadequate intake of dietary fiber.
A recent study looked at the common use of MPFF in treating HD.
Hesperidin, Diosmin & MPFF
What exactly are these compounds? Both are bioflavonoids, which are compounds found in plants that typically account for the taste and color. They also have antioxidant properties.
- Hesperidin in a bioflavonoid found in citrus fruit, notably in orange peels.
- Diosmin is also a bioflavonoid, and it can be derived from hesperidin.
One treatment option under study has used a mixture made up of 90% diosmin with 10% hesperidin in a micronized and purified form (MPFF for short) as a topical treatment for hemorrhoids. Sometimes, other bioflavonoids are added to the mix.
The treatment has been in use for decades, but lacked a systemic review – which is where the new paper stepped into the breach.
Results
Researchers examined the evidence in a study that was published in the academic journal Future Medicine in April 2021. The systemic review looked at existing original research in the field. Here’s what they found:
- For patients with acute HD, treatment with MPFF can reduce symptoms such as bleeding, discharge, pain and itching;
- For patients who’ve received surgery, post-op treatment with MPFF similarly reduced pain and bleeding, and reduced the use of painkilling drugs as well as the length of their hospitalization;
- It’s effective both for early patients and those with advanced HD;
- It may actually prevent HD from recurring.
How does it work?
The study noted that treatment with MPFF took advantage of the protective properties of the bioflavonoids.
- It improves the condition of the veins;
- Improves drainage of lymph nodes;
- Protects against inflammation, and reduces excess permeability of the capillaries that results in bleeding.
Researchers also noted that treatment with MPFF is well tolerated by patients in all phases of the disease, and can be used alone or in conjunction with other options such as diet.
It’s further evidence of the ways that citrus flavonoids work to protect the body’s circulatory system – among their many other uses.
