title: Probiotic Fermented Milk Containing Dietary Fiber Has Additive Effects in IBS with Constipation Compared to Plain Probiotic Fermented Milk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although controversial, probiotics and dietary fiber are commonly used for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We evaluated the effects of multistrain probiotics on the symptoms of IBS to determine whether the addition of dietary fi ber had an additive effect on constipation-predominant IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 142 participants who met the Rome III criteria were recruited and randomized into a control group or a test group. Participants in the control group received multistrain probiotic fermented milk with Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium infantis; the participants in the test group received the same probiotic fermented milk mixed with dietary fi ber such as sea tangle extracts, radish extracts and glasswort extracts. The patients were treated for four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the symptoms of IBS, with the exception of fl atulence, stool consistency, and frequency of defecation, signifi cantly improved in both groups. In the analysis of IBS subtypes, especially constipation-predominant IBS, the frequency and duration of defecation and straining at stool were improved more in the test group than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary fiber had additive benefits for the symptoms of constipation, especially in constipation-predominant IBS.
authors: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sung Chul
authors: SC
authors: Choi
authors: Beom Jin
authors: BJ
authors: Kim
authors: Poong-Lyul
authors: PL
authors: Rhee
authors: Dong Kyung
authors: DK
authors: Chang
authors: Hee Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Son
authors: Jae J
authors: JJ
authors: Kim
authors: Jong Chul
authors: JC
authors: Rhee
authors: Soon Im
authors: SI
authors: Kim
authors: Young Sil
authors: YS
authors: Han
authors: Ki Hyeon
authors: KH
authors: Sim
authors: Seok Nam
authors: SN
authors: Park