Randomised clinical trial: Bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75 significantly alleviates irritable bowel syndrome and improves quality of life –– a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 2011-05, Vol.33 (10), p.1123-1132
• Main Authors: Guglielmetti, S., Mora, D., Gschwender, M., Popp, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bifidobacterium; Biological and medical sciences; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Intestines - microbiology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - microbiology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04633.x

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 1123–1132 Summary Background  Recent research suggests that an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota and a dysfunctional intestinal barrier might trigger irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As probiotics have been reported to restore the intestinal microbiota and the gut barrier, the therapeutic potential of probiotics within IBS became of strong interest. Aim  To assess the efficacy of Bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75 in IBS. Methods  A total of 122 patients were randomised to receive either placebo (N = 62) or MIMBb75 (N = 60) once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of IBS symptoms was recorded daily on a 7‐point Likert scale. Results  MIMBb75 significantly reduced the global assessment of IBS symptoms by −0.88 points (95% CI: −1.07; −0.69) when compared with only −0.16 (95% CI: −0.32; 0.00) points in the placebo group (P