Probiotics and IBS (February 2008)

The last 3 to 4 years have seen a considerable amount of scientific interest in the disturbance of the normal intestinal bacteria balance. This month I’m sharing with you a new research study1 conducted on the benefits of the use of probiotics for the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS. IBS is one of the most common gastrointestinal ailments seen in a doctor’s office. In some studies, up to 10-20 percent of Americans have experienced symptoms of IBS. There is no one exact cause for these symptoms. Healthy intestines have 100 trillion bacteria, and most of the time the beneficial or good bacteria are able to keep the harmful bacteria in check. When there is a disturbance of the balance, the normal intestinal digestive functions can be altered and this may result in the symptoms of IBS. As many of you may personally know, this disorder can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. The diagnosis is based on chronic symptoms of abdominal pain and change in stool habits. Most individuals experience symptoms of excess gas and bloating. Before making an IBS diagnosis, it is important for doctors to do some specific tests to rule out the possibility of other gastrointestinal disorders that can cause similar symptoms. Once the diagnosis is established, doctors will generally recommend a diet that can be beneficial to suppressing the symptoms. Additionally, there are a variety of prescription medications that can be prescribed depending on response to diet and the persistence symptoms. A medical study published last month investigated the effects of a multispecies probiotic in patients with IBS. Patients were randomized to receive a placebo or a probiotic for a period of five months. During the study period, their GI symptoms were recorded and analyzed. At the end of the study there was a 37 percent decrease in intestinal symptoms in the group receiving the probiotic and only a 9 percent reduction in the placebo group. The investigators determined that the probiotic reestablished a normal balance to the intestinal flora. This likely resulted in a decrease in intestinal inflammation. They concluded that a multispecies probiotic taken daily in a dose of approximately 5 billon colonies is effective in alleviating symptoms of IBS. Furthermore, no significant adverse events were recorded. Eat healthy and live well! Lawrence J. Hoberman, MD References: 1) Clinical trial: multispecies probiotic supplementation alleviates the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and stabilizes intestinal microbes: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. VOL. 27 issue 1 Jan 2008 Take Home Message If you or someone you know has symptoms of IBS, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any serious GI disorder. If the diagnosis is IBS, then taking a multi-species probiotic like EndoMune in a daily dosage of at least 5 billon colonies may ease the symptoms. Even better, two capsules of EndoMune has 12 billon colonies of beneficial bacteria. These are natural intestinal bacteria and are not associated with adverse side effects. EndoMune can be taken safely with other medications.