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IBS, Diarrhea PredominantNCT07425145

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation for IBS-D: A Multicenter Study

A study testing Portable stimulator in people with IBS, Diarrhea Predominant, run by First People's Hospital of Foshan at 1 site in China.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Under the Rome IV criteria, IBS can be classified into constipation-predominant (IBS-C), diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), mixed (IBS-M), and unclassified (IBS-U) subtypes. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
IBS, Diarrhea Predominant
What is being tested?
Portable stimulator
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
200 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Mar 2026to 28 Feb 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Inclusion Criteria:1)Adults aged 18-65 years of either sex. 2)Diagnosis of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) will according to modified Rome IV criteria based on Asian consensus4: recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort (an unpleasant or bothersome sensation that is not described by the patient as pain, including fullness, bloating, or pressure), on average, at least 1 day per week in the last 3 months, associated with two or more of the following-related to defecation, associated with a change in stool frequency, or associated with a change in stool form-with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis.

3)Mean daily abdominal pain score (APS) or abdominal discomfort score (ADS) ≥ 3 on a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) in the last week.

4)Type 6 or 7 of the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) appeared for at least 2 days in the last weeks.

5)Colonoscopy performed within the past 3 years without evidence of organic gastrointestinal disease. Patients with colonic polyps or colonic diverticula may be included, provided there are no related complications.

6)Willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures, and provide written informed consent.

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Exclusion Criteria:1)Presence of organic gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and gastrointestinal malignancy).

2)Patients who cannot commit to abstaining from any IBS-targeted medications (e.g., antidiarrheals, antispasmodics, rifaximin, 5-HT3 antagonists, opioid analgesics, or other agents affecting bowel habits or visceral pain perception) or centrally acting drugs (Antidepressants or anxiolytics) throughout the study period. Patients with long-term stable use (at least 3 months) of probiotics/synbiotics who do not intend to change their regimen during the treatment period may be included.

3)Prior major abdominal surgery (except appendectomy, cholecystectomy). 4)Severe cerebrocardiovascular diseases, impaired hepatic or renal function indicating organ failure, uncontrolled diabetes or hyperthyroidism, or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders.

5)Implanted electrical devices (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator) or other active implants that may be affected by electrical stimulation.

6)Local skin disease or infection at the stimulation site, severe dermatologic sensitivity to electrodes or adhesives.

7)Participants who are familiar with acupuncture acupoints and may therefore compromise study blinding will be excluded.

8)Pregnancy or lactation. Women of childbearing potential who cannot confirm non-pregnancy will be required to undergo a urine or serum hCG test during screening, those with positive results will be excluded.

9)Participation in another clinical trial within the past 3 months or currently enrolled in another interventional study.

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Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Yilin Wang, Dr. contact

+86 18038863747

wyl627@126.com

China1 site
  • The First People's Hospital of Foshan

    Foshan, Guangdong, 528000

    Yilin Wang, Dr., +86 18038863747, wyl627@126.com

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) for Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D): A Multicenter, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Under the Rome IV criteria, IBS can be classified into constipation-predominant (IBS-C), diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), mixed (IBS-M), and unclassified (IBS-U) subtypes. IBS-D represents one of the most clinically disruptive phenotypes due to the combined burden of abdominal pain and frequent loose stools1. These symptoms are the major drivers of impaired quality of life and healthcare utilization. Despite available pharmacologic treatments, recurrence rates remain high and adverse effects often limit patient satisfaction, creating an unmet need for safe and effective alternative therapies.

Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA) is an emerging therapy which delivers appropriate electrical stimulation to acupoints that are in the vicinity of peripheral nerves through surface electrodes, has been demonstrated to improve bowel symptoms and visceral hypersensitivity by modulating autonomic function and brain-gut interaction2. Previous trials of TEA in IBS have shown improvement in bowel symptoms, pain, and quality of life, with good safety and tolerability2,3. However, multicenter evidence for IBS-D is lacking.

This trial aims to evaluate whether TEA can improve overall symptoms in patients with IBS-D. Specifically, the primary objective is to assess the effect of TEA on the composite responder rate, defined by concurrent improvement in both abdominal pain and loose stool days. Secondary objectives include evaluating broader symptom severity, stool characteristics, as well as on quality of life, psychological symptoms, and the durability of clinical benefits during follow-up.

Being tested
Portable stimulator
Keywords
Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Multicenter Clinical Trial
Medical subject headings
Ichthyosis Bullosa of Siemens, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Portable stimulatorDevice

    A pair of surface electrocardiogram electrodes was applied on skin. A watch-size digital stimulators was used to deliver electrical stimulation.

Study groups in NCT07425145
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
TEA groupExperimentalElectrical stimulation will be applied unilaterally at the ST36 (Zusanli) acupoints.Electrical stimulation will be delivered using a watch-sized portable stimulator. The stimulation will be delivered using two sets of parameters: an anti-pain mode (0.1-second on-time, 0.4-second off-time, 0.5 ms pulse width, 100 Hz) for the first 30 minutes, followed by an anti-inflammatory mode (10-second on-time, 90-second off-time, 0.3 ms pulse width, 5 Hz) for the subsequent 30 minutes. The current amplitude will range from 1 to 10 mA and will be gradually adjusted to the maximum level tolerated by the participant.TEA will be performed for 1 hour per session, twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. The total treatment duration will be 4 weeks.
Receives: Device: Portable stimulator
sham-TEA groupSham comparatorElectrodes will be placed at non-acupoint locations that are not situated along any recognized meridian. The sham stimulation site will be located on the lateral aspect of the forearm, approximately two finger breadths lateral to the midpoint of the cubital crease.Electrical stimulation will be delivered using a watch-sized portable stimulator. The stimulation will be delivered using two sets of parameters: an anti-pain mode (0.1-second on-time, 0.4-second off-time, 0.5 ms pulse width, 100 Hz) for the first 30 minutes, followed by an anti-inflammatory mode (10-second on-time, 90-second off-time, 0.3 ms pulse width, 5 Hz) for the subsequent 30 minutes. The current amplitude will range from 1 to 10 mA and will be gradually adjusted to the maximum level tolerated by the participant. Sham-TEA will be performed for 1 hour per session, twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. The total treatment duration will be 4 weeks.
Receives: Device: Portable stimulator

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Composite responder

    Abdominal pain or discomfort responder if the weekly average of the daily worst APS or ADS (past 24 hours) decreases by ≥30% from baseline. For participants with both abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort, responder status will be determined based on the symptom with the higher baseline score. stool consistency responder if the number of days per week with at least one stool of Bristol Stool Form Scale type 6 or 7 is reduced by ≥50% from baseline. Only participants who simultaneously meet both criteria will be considered primary endpoint responders.

    Measured: At the end of the 4-week treatment period

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Composite responder rates assessed at weeks 2 and 8

    Abdominal pain or discomfort responder if the weekly average of the daily worst APS or ADS (past 24 hours) decreases by ≥30% from baseline. For participants with both abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort, responder status will be determined based on the symptom with the higher baseline score. stool consistency responder if the number of days per week with at least one stool of Bristol Stool Form Scale type 6 or 7 is reduced by ≥50% from baseline. Only participants who simultaneously meet both criteria will be considered primary endpoint responders.

    Measured: At weeks 2 and 8

  2. IBS-SSS

    This questionnaire consists of five components: severity and frequency of abdominal pain, severity of abdominal distension, dissatisfaction with bowel habits, and interference with daily life, each scored from 0 to 100, yielding a total score between 0 and 500. According to the total score, IBS severity is categorized as mild (75-175), moderate (175-300), or severe (>300).

    Measured: Assessments of IBS-SSS will be performed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 8.

  3. IBS-QoL

    The IBS-QoL includes 34 items covering eight domains: dysphoria, interference with activity, body image, health worry, food avoidance, social reaction, sexual activity, and relationships. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, and the total score will be converted to a 0-100 scale, where higher values indicate better quality of life, using the formula: (actual raw score - lowest possible score) / possible score range × 100.

    Measured: Assessments of IBS-QoL will be performed at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8.

  4. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    It consists of 14 items, divided into two subscales: HADS-A (anxiety) and HADS-D (depression), with 7 items each. Each item is scored from 0 to 3, yielding subscale scores ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

    Measured: Assessments of HADS will be performed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 8.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Feb 2026
  2. Study start1 Mar 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 Nov 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion28 Feb 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
200 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07425145
Sponsor's protocol ID
TEA-IBSD-MC-2026
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
13 Feb 2026
Last updated
20 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Gwee KA, Gonlachanvit S, Ghoshal UC, Chua ASB, Miwa H, Wu J, Bak YT, Lee OY, Lu CL, Park H, Chen M, Syam AF, Abraham P, Sollano J, Chang CS, Suzuki H, Fang X, Fukudo S, Choi MG, Hou X, Hongo M. Second Asian Consensus on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019 Jul 1;25(3):343-362. doi: 10.5056/jnm19041.

    PubMed 31327218
  • Huang Z, Lin Z, Lin C, Chu H, Zheng X, Chen B, Du L, Chen JDZ, Dai N. Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Improves Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation by Accelerating Colon Transit and Reducing Rectal Sensation Using Autonomic Mechanisms. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Sep 1;117(9):1491-1501. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001882. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

    PubMed 35973183
  • Hu P, Sun K, Li H, Qi X, Gong J, Zhang Y, Xu L, Lin M, Fan Y, Chen JDZ. Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Improved the Quality of Life in Patients With Diarrhea-Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Neuromodulation. 2022 Dec;25(8):1165-1172. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.009. Epub 2021 Dec 18.

    PubMed 35088760
  • Mearin F, Lacy BE, Chang L, Chey WD, Lembo AJ, Simren M, Spiller R. Bowel Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2016 Feb 18:S0016-5085(16)00222-5. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.031. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 27144627

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Portable stimulator in people with IBS, Diarrhea Predominant, run by First People's Hospital of Foshan at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Yilin Wang, Dr. (+86 18038863747, wyl627@126.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Composite responder (time frame: At the end of the 4-week treatment period). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07425145, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Feb 2026.

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