title: A randomized clinical trial of Saccharomyces cerevisiae versus placebo in the irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to evaluate clinical symptoms in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome receiving Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 179 adults with irritable bowel syndrome (Rome III criteria) were randomized to receive once daily 500 mg of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, delivered by one capsule (n = 86, F: 84%, age: 42.5 ± 12.5), or placebo (n = 93, F: 88%, age: 45.4 ± 14) for 8 weeks followed by a 3-week washout period. After a 2-week run-in period, cardinal symptoms (abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating/distension, bowel movement difficulty) and changes in stool frequency and consistency were recorded daily and assessed each week. A safety assessment was carried out throughout the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of responders, defined by an improvement of abdominal pain/discomfort, was significantly higher (p = 0.04) in the treated group than the placebo group (63% vs 47%, OR = 1.88, 95%, CI: 0.99-3.57) in the last 4 weeks of treatment. A non-significant trend of improvement was observed with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the other symptoms. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was well tolerated and did not affect stool frequency and consistency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well tolerated and reduces abdominal pain/discomfort scores without stool modification. Thus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae may be a new promising candidate for improving abdominal pain in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome.
authors.affiliation: CHU Lille, Department of Gastroenterology, Claude Huriez Hospital, Lille, France; Lille University North of France, Lille, France; INSERM U995, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pineton de Chambrun
authors.affiliation: Lille University North of France, Lille, France; INSERM U995, Lille, France; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lille, France.
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neut
authors.affiliation: Lille University North of France, Lille, France; INSERM U995, Lille, France; CHU Lille, Department of Surgery, Claude Huriez Hospital, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: Biofortis-Mérieux NutriSciences, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazaubiel
authors.affiliation: Lesaffre International, Lesaffre Human Care, France.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pelerin
authors.affiliation: Lesaffre International, Lesaffre Human Care, France.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Justen
authors.affiliation: CHU Lille, Department of Gastroenterology, Claude Huriez Hospital, Lille, France; Lille University North of France, Lille, France; INSERM U995, Lille, France. Electronic address: pdesreumaux@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desreumaux
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Abdominal pain; Irritable bowel syndrome; Probiotic; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Yeast