title: A probiotic treatment containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus improves IBS symptoms in an open label trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five patients [male 32, female 53; age (45.31+/-11.72) years] were given live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules 1260 mg/d t.i.d.x4 weeks. Syndrome scales were used to evaluate the efficacy in gastrointestinal syndrome. Fecal flora was also measured before and after the treatment. Six bacteria were cultured and the colony forming units were counted in stool. SPSS was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four patients finished the follow-up. No side-effect was found. For treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, the effective rate of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus capsules was 56.8% in the second week, 74.3% in the fourth week and 73.0% in the sixth week. Single symptom was improved, especially in abdominal pain and stool character. The probiotica containing live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus could increase bifidobacterium count (P<0.01) and lactobacillus count (P<0.05); decrease bacteroides count (P<0.05) and enterococci count (P<0.01); No obvious changes were observed in clostridium difficile colonitis and enterobacteriaceae (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of the study indicated that the administration of live combined Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus improved the symptom of irritable bowel syndrome and that there was a gradual increase of this effect. Thereafter conditions remained stable for 2 weeks. That improvement may be associated with alterations in gastrointestinal flora.
authors.affiliation: Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
authors.forename: Yu-jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Shu-jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ying-cong
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jian-min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D016983:Enterococcus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*