Probiotics (mixed strains) Benefit Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Particularly Those with Loose Stools

Reference: “Effect of probiotics on symptoms in korean adults with irritable bowel syndrome,” Hong KS, Kang HW, et al, Gut Liver, 2009; 3(2): 101-7. (Address: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea). 

Summary: In a placebo-controlled study involving 70 adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, Rome III criteria), supplementation with a mixture of probiotic strains (including Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 and Lactobacillus acidophilus AD031, among other strains, making a total of 20 billion lyophilized bacteria, 2 times/day) for a period of 8 weeks was found to significantly reduce pain (-31.9 vs. -17.7), including abdominal pain and defecation discomfort, and improve stool form. The results were most effective in patients with normal or loose stools. These results add to the body of evidence suggesting that probiotic supplementation may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with IBS.