title: Efficacy of Lactobacillus casei Shirota for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Meta-analyses point to a modest but significant effect of probiotics on symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aimed to assess the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on symptoms and quality of life in IBS patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  IBS patients (Rome II) between 18 and 65 years of age were included. The study consisted of an 8-week intervention period in which the participants received probiotic (LcS) or placebo twice daily, followed by an 8-week follow-up period. Symptom diaries and quality of life were scored at weeks 0, 8 and 16. The primary outcome parameter was a decrease of at least 30% in a composite mean symptom score (MSS) at week 8 on the basis of an intention-to-treat analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine individuals (67% women) were included in the probiotic group and 41 individuals (71% women) were included in the placebo group. After the intervention period, the mean relative improvement did not reach 30% for MSS or any individual symptom score. After follow-up (week 16), a mean improvement of at least 30% was achieved for MSS in the probiotic group, but no significant difference was found between both treatment groups (mean±SD: 34±7%; 13±8%, P=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After probiotic treatment with LcS, no improvement of 30% in MSS was observed after 8 weeks.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht bDepartment of Internal Medicine, Diaconessen Hospital Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands cLaboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annemieke Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.forename: Cees H M
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vankerckhoven
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Daisy M A E
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jonkers
authors.forename: Ad A M
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Masclee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome