Probiotics offer benefits that extend beyond digestion, but digestive support remains the primary reason most people use them. A substantial body of research suggests that this use is well founded.

Research published in the Korean Journal of Gastroenterology (2006; 47(6):413–419) examined the effects of probiotic supplementation in 40 individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a probiotic supplement or a placebo. Evaluations were conducted at two and four weeks. The probiotic used in the study contained Streptococcus faecium and Bacillus subtilis. Participants receiving the probiotic experienced fewer episodes of abdominal pain and a reduction in pain severity compared with the placebo group. Intestinal gas production did not differ significantly between groups.

Additional studies support the use of probiotics in IBS, including pediatric populations. Research published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (July 2010; 51(1):24–30) evaluated 59 children and adolescents aged four to 18 years with IBS. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a high-dose probiotic supplement for six weeks. Children receiving probiotics experienced less abdominal pain, bloating, and other IBS-related symptoms compared with those receiving placebo.

Probiotics have also been studied in inflammatory bowel disease. A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology (September 7, 2010; 16(33):4145–4151) examined probiotic supplementation in 30 patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. All participants were receiving sulfasalazine therapy. The addition of a probiotic supplement containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Lactobacillus fermentum was found to be more effective than drug therapy alone.

Patients receiving probiotics showed reduced inflammatory activity, as evidenced by lower blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor–alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65). The authors concluded that “oral supplementation with probiotics could be helpful in maintaining remission and preventing relapse of ulcerative colitis.”

While probiotics may help improve digestive symptoms in some patients, long-term microbiome balance involves more than simply adding bacteria. Learn more in Why Probiotics Don’t Work Long-Term.

Educational note:
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.