the efficacy of a synbiotic containing bacillus coagulans in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

aim : we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a synbiotic containing bacillus coagulans in treatment of ibs. background : some studies have shown the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (ibs). 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.