Scientist - News - 27-03-2009:
«BackDiverse conclusions on probiotics and IBS Beintema, Nienke A recent large-scale review article concluded that only Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 shows a convincing beneficial effect on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Meanwhile, another review reported positive effects of several probiotics, while a third noted positive impact of Bacillus coagulans. Debate surrounding the effectiveness of probiotics against IBS symptoms continues, as several articles published contradictory conclusions in the past few weeks. A review by Northwestern University and the University of Michigan concluded that B. infantis was the only one out of 13 different probiotic strains to significantly improve symptoms of IBS, including abdominal pain, bloating and bowel movement difficulty. Although the researchers are firm in their conclusion, they note that this does not necessarily mean that the other reviewed probiotics are not effective in treating IBS. Rather, they stress that the other 15 trials did not use an appropriate study design, and therefore did not warrant any sound conclusion. Their review article appeared online this week, on the website of American Journal of Gastroenterology, ahead of the journal’s printed April 2009 issue. Another review article, published last month in BMC Gasteroenterology, reached a more favourable conclusion on the potential of probiotics to relieve IBS symptoms. The researchers from the University of Oxford studied the findings of 14 randomized placebo-controlled trials. They conclude that combined data suggest "a modest improvement in overall symptoms after several weeks of treatment". A third study, carried out at the Research Testing Laboratories, an independent laboratory in New York, found that Bacillus coagulans is effective in relieving abdominal pain and bloating in IBS patients. A clinical trial had previously shown that a combination of this strain with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus improves IBS symptoms, but the New York study was the first evidence of the probiotic effect of this individual strain. The results were published in the March issue of Postgraduate Medicine. More information: Review article in American Journal of Gastroenterology Review article in BMC Gastroenterology Article in Postgraduate medicine on B. coagulans and IBS This same edition of Postgraduate medicine happened to feature an article on the effect of B. coagulans on the immune response to viral infections. |