Probiotic combination effectively alleviates functional abdominal disorders
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14th March 2008
Researcher Kajsa Kajander demonstrated in her doctoral dissertation that the combination of four probiotic bacteria effectively alleviates irritable bowel symptoms. This has substantial practical application because as many as 20% of the population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and existing treatments are ineffective. The dissertation includes two clinical studies showing that the probiotic supplement reduces irritable bowel symptoms by around 40%. Symptoms were alleviated by less than 10% in those participants receiving the placebo. The probiotic combination used in the study is available as Valio Gefilus® MAX daily dose drink.
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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most frequent diagnosis in gastroenterology. IBS manifests itself in painful, uncomfortable and distressing abdominal symptoms and variable bowel function. The syndrome is entirely benign but has a major effect on the quality of life. IBS burdens society with significant costs consuming health care resources and causing absence from work.
The syndrome is classified as functional and its underlying cause is not known in detail. Recent studies suggest that certain functional bacteria, or probiotics, may help to alleviate IBS symptoms. There is however insufficient research proof to enable general recommendations for treatment.
Ms Kajander's doctoral dissertation studies the effect of probiotic treatment in IBS sufferers on abdominal symptoms, the quality of life, intestinal microbiota and systemic inflammatory markers. The study also examines background factors related to the syndrome by identifying the differences in intestinal microbiota and mucosal metabolites between patients and healthy control subjects.
Treatment that balances the intestinal microbiota
The effect of probiotic treatment on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome were studied in two long-term, randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind trials conducted using a probiotic combination consisting of two lactobacilli, one propionic acid bacteria and one bifidobacterium. Compared with the placebo, the probiotic combination significantly alleviated the overall symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in both studies.
The use of probiotics also stabilised the composition of the intestinal microbiota. On the basis of previous studies, it has been suggested that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome have a more unstable microbiota than healthy persons.
The dissertation showed, with regard to IBS background factors, differences in the intestinal microbiota between those suffering from IBS and the control subjects. Compared with control subjects, IBS patients have less bacteria belonging to certain clostridium and bifidobacteria groups.
Differences were also observed in the metabolites of the intestinal mucous membrane between patients and control subjects: the patients' mucous membrane samples contained significantly higher quantities of certain fat-soluble substances, such as lysophosphatidylcholines, compared with those of the control subjects. Lysophosphatidylcholines have previously been associated with inflammatory intestinal diseases, but in the dissertation they were for the first time associated with the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome.
So in conclusion it can be stated that the combination of probiotics alleviates IBS symptoms and can therefore be recommended to people suffering from IBS for use alongside other lifestyle recommendations and possible pharmacotherapy.
Kajsa Kajander's, M.Sc. (Food Sciences), doctoral dissertation "Pathophysiological factors of irritable bowel syndrome, and the effects of probiotic supplementation" was publicly examined at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki on 14th March 2008.
Further information: kajsa.kajander@valio.fi
or +358 10 381 2087.
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Kajsa Kajander
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