Note that abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea frequency went down in the probiotic group after 12 weeks. After nine months, though pain decreased but constipation increased (and diarrhea remained the same) in the probiotic group. IN the control group most measures got worse over time. So probiotics did help particularly with pain.
Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2014 Summer;7(3):156-63. The efficacy of a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Rogha M1, Esfahani MZ2, Zargarzadeh AH3.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Adult IBS patients (n=85) were randomized to receive a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans or placebo for 12 weeks. Frequency of IBS symptoms including abdominal pain (scored 1 to 7), and diarrhea and constipation (scored 1 to 5) was evaluated before and after the intervention and then after nine months follow-up.
RESULTS:
Twenty-three patients in the synbiotic group and 33 patients in the placebo group completed the study (age = 39.8±12.7 years, 78.6% female). After treatment, more reduction in abdominal pain frequency was observed with synbiotic compared with placebo (score reduction 4.2±1.8 vs. 1.9±1.5, P<0.001). Diarrhea frequency was decreased in the synbiotic group, but not in the placebo group (score reduction 1.9±1.2 vs. 0.0±0.5, P<0.001). Decrease in constipation frequency was the same between the two groups (score reduction 0.9±1.2 vs. 0.8±1.1, P=0.561).
After nine months follow-up, abdominal pain frequency was decreased (P=0.016), constipation frequency was increased (P<0.001), and diarrhea frequency remained unchanged in the synbiotic group (P=1.000). In the placebo group, abdominal pain frequency was increased (P<0.001), constipation frequency remained unchanged (P=0.553), and diarrhea frequency was increased (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Bacillus Coagulans improves abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS patients. Further studies on a larger sample of patients are warranted.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25120896
Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2014 Summer;7(3):156-63. The efficacy of a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Rogha M1, Esfahani MZ2, Zargarzadeh AH3.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Adult IBS patients (n=85) were randomized to receive a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans or placebo for 12 weeks. Frequency of IBS symptoms including abdominal pain (scored 1 to 7), and diarrhea and constipation (scored 1 to 5) was evaluated before and after the intervention and then after nine months follow-up.
RESULTS:
Twenty-three patients in the synbiotic group and 33 patients in the placebo group completed the study (age = 39.8±12.7 years, 78.6% female). After treatment, more reduction in abdominal pain frequency was observed with synbiotic compared with placebo (score reduction 4.2±1.8 vs. 1.9±1.5, P<0.001). Diarrhea frequency was decreased in the synbiotic group, but not in the placebo group (score reduction 1.9±1.2 vs. 0.0±0.5, P<0.001). Decrease in constipation frequency was the same between the two groups (score reduction 0.9±1.2 vs. 0.8±1.1, P=0.561).
After nine months follow-up, abdominal pain frequency was decreased (P=0.016), constipation frequency was increased (P<0.001), and diarrhea frequency remained unchanged in the synbiotic group (P=1.000). In the placebo group, abdominal pain frequency was increased (P<0.001), constipation frequency remained unchanged (P=0.553), and diarrhea frequency was increased (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION:
Bacillus Coagulans improves abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS patients. Further studies on a larger sample of patients are warranted.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25120896