A probiotic mixture alleviates symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients: a controlled 6‐month intervention

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 387 - 394
• Main Authors: KAJANDER, K., HATAKKA, K., POUSSA, T., FÄRKKILÄ, M., KORPELA, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.09.2005; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Defecation; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - physiopathology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - therapy; Lactobacillus; Life Style; Male; Medical Records; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Propionibacterium; Quality of Life; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surveys and Questionnaires; Human; Probiotic; Symptomatology; Irritable bowel syndrome; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Mixture
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02579.x

Summary Background : Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal disorder of unknown aetiology. The effect of probiotics in this syndrome remains unclear. Aim : To investigate whether a probiotic mixture containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. rhamnosus LC705, Bifidobacterium breve Bb99 and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS is effective in alleviating irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Methods : A total of 103 patients fulfilling the Rome I or II criteria took part in this 6‐month, randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial. The patients received a probiotic capsule or a placebo capsule daily. Gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habits were recorded. Results : At the end the total symptom score (abdominal pain + distension + flatulence + borborygmi) was 7.7 (95% CI: −13.9 to −1.6) points lower in the probiotic group (P = 0.015). This represents a median reduction of 42% in the symptom score of the probiotic group compared with 6% in the placebo group. In individual symptoms, borborygmi was milder in the probiotic group (P = 0.008), and for the rest of the symptoms there was a non‐significant trend. Conclusions : The results indicate that this probiotic mixture is effective in alleviating irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Considering the high prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and the lack of effective therapies, even a slight reduction in symptoms could have positive public health consequences.