Effect of multispecies probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoon, Jun Sik; Sohn, Won; Lee, Oh Young; Lee, Sang Pyo; Lee, Kang Nyeong; Jun, Dae Won; Lee, Hang Lak; Yoon, Byung Chul; Choi, Ho Soon; Chung, Won‐Seok; Seo, Jae‐Gu
• Is Part Of: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. Volume 29:Issue 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 52
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12322
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0815-9319

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jgh12322-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and Aim</title> <p>The efficacy of treatment with multispecies probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and the alterations of gut microbiota in patients who have taken probiotics were investigated.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12322-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial involved 49 IBS patients (probiotics: 25, placebo: 24) diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: either to receive multispecies probiotics (a mixture of <italic>Bifidobacterium longum</italic>, <italic>B. bifidum</italic>, <italic>B. lactis</italic>, <italic>Lactobacillus acidophilus</italic>, <italic>L. rhamnosus</italic>, and <italic>Streptococcus thermophilus</italic>) twice a day for 4 weeks or to receive a placebo twice a day for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy end‐point was the proportion of participants whose IBS symptoms were substantially relieved at week 4. Secondary end‐points were the intensity of abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, stool frequency/consistency, alterations in fecal microflora over the 4 weeks. Fecal microflora were analyzed in 34 patients (probiotics: 17, placebo: 17) by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction assays.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12322-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The proportion of patients whose IBS symptoms were substantially relieved at week 4 was significantly higher in the probiotics group than in the placebo group: 68.0% (17/25) <italic>versus</italic> 37.5% (9/24) (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05). Secondary end‐points such as improvement in abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating occurred in the probiotics group but not in the placebo group. Fecal analysis revealed that <italic>B. lactis</italic>, <italic>L. rhamnosus</italic>, and <italic>S. thermophilus</italic> had increased significantly in the probiotics group after 4 weeks and that <italic>B. lactis</italic> had increased in the placebo group.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12322-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Multispecies probiotics are effective in IBS patients and induce the alterations in the composition of intestinal microbiota.</p> </sec> </abstract>