Clinical trial: the effects of a fermented milk containing three probiotic bacteria in patients with irritable bowel syndrome – a randomized, double‐blind, controlled study

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 218 - 227
• Main Authors: SIMRÉN, M., ÖHMAN, L., OLSSON, J., SVENSSON, U., OHLSON, K., POSSERUD, I., STRID, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Bifidobacterium; diet therapy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gastroenterologi och hepatologi; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestinal Mucosa - microbiology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - diet therapy; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - psychology; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Lactobacillus paracasei; Male; microbiology; Middle Aged; Milk; Milk - microbiology; Patient Compliance; Probiotics; Probiotics - therapeutic use; psychology; Quality of Life; Quality of Life - psychology; Questionnaires; Surveys and Questionnaires; therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04183.x

Summary Background  The effects of probiotic bacteria in IBS remain controversial. Aim  To study the effects of a probiotic product on IBS symptoms. Methods  We randomized 74 IBS patients to receive 8 weeks of daily treatment with 400 mL milk fermented with the yoghurt bacteria and containing Lactobacillus paracasei, ssp. paracasei F19, Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 (Cultura; active) or acidified milk without these bacteria (control). The primary endpoint was the proportion of subjects reporting adequate relief of their IBS symptoms at least 50% of the weeks. IBS symptom severity, psychological symptoms and quality of life were assessed. Results  The proportion of responders was 38% (14/37 patients) in the active group and 27% (10/37 patients) in the control group (P = 0.3). IBS symptom severity improved significantly in both groups during the treatment period. This change was greater in the active group during the first 2 weeks, but thereafter, no significant group differences were seen. Conclusions  We could not detect a clearly positive effect of fermented milk containing three probiotic bacteria on GI symptoms in IBS patients compared with the control treatment. However, a trend towards a more favourable effect during the first weeks was seen in the active group. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 218–227