Research published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (July 2014; Volume 40, Issue 1, Pages 51–62) evaluated the effects of probiotic supplementation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 186 patients with IBS.
Participants received either a probiotic or a placebo for 12 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) at the end of the study period. At week 12, the probiotic group showed a statistically significant improvement compared with placebo, with a mean difference in IBS-SSS of –35.0 points.
The authors concluded, “These results suggest this probiotic confers benefit in IBS and deserves further investigation.” Read more about IBS and probiotics.
IBS is increasingly linked to disruptions in the gut microbiome. The broader relationship between gut bacteria and chronic disease is discussed in The Microbiome and Chronic Disease.
