Multistrain probiotic preparation significantly reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

AIM: To investigate the effect of bifid triple viable capsule, a multistrain probiotic preparation on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the amount of fecal Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. of IBS patients before and after treatment.

METHODS

A total of 60 IBS patients who met Rome III criteria were included in this double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive composite probiotics or placebo for four weeks. The IBS symptoms of participants were surveyed using a questionnaire, and the amount of fecal Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. was determined by quantitative Real-time PCR pre- and post-intervention.

RESULTS

During the four week intervention period, the patients receiving probiotic preparation showed a significantly greater improvement in the symptom severity score of IBS, severity and frequency of pain or discomfort, abdominal distention and satisfaction with bowel habits. The symptom subtypes revealed that low amounts of both Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. were present in the samples of diarrhea-predominant IBS patients, while the alternating-predominant IBS patients had only low amounts of Bifidobacterium spp. Post-intervention for diarrhea-predominant IBS patients with lower symptom severity score showed even lower amounts of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp.

CONCLUSION

Bifid triple viable capsule supplement may benefit patients with IBS. Multistrain probiotic preparation may be a promising candidate for IBS therapy, although the mechanism needs to be further studied.