A probiotic mixture alleviates symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients: a controlled 6-month intervention.
BACKGROUND
Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder of unknown aetiology. The effect of probiotics in this syndrome remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether a probiotic mixture containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. rhamnosus LC705, Bifidobacterium breve Bb99 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS is effective in alleviating irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.


METHODS
A total of 103 patients fulfilling the Rome I or II criteria took part in this 6-month, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The patients received a probiotic capsule or a placebo capsule daily. Gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habits were recorded.


RESULTS
At the end the total symptom score (abdominal pain + distension + flatulence + borborygmi) was 7.7 (95% CI: -13.9 to -1.6) points lower in the probiotic group (P = 0.015). This represents a median reduction of 42% in the symptom score of the probiotic group compared with 6% in the placebo group. In individual symptoms, borborygmi was milder in the probiotic group (P = 0.008), and for the rest of the symptoms there was a non-significant trend.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that this probiotic mixture is effective in alleviating irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Considering the high prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and the lack of effective therapies, even a slight reduction in symptoms could have positive public health consequences.
Kajander
K
K
Valio Ltd, Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland.
Hatakka
K
K
Poussa
T
T
Färkkilä
M
M
Korpela
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003672:Defecation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011424:Propionibacterium; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires