A blend of two common probiotics could be the key to solving pesky stomach pain, bloating and gas, a study suggests.
Probiotics are live microorganisms designed to supplement the gut microbiome, the body’s natural hub of healthy bacteria.
They’re typically found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir, though probiotic supplements costing up to $60 per month have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, largely due to social media influence.
Now, researchers in India have tested the effects of probiotics in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic digestive condition affecting as many as one in six Americans. The most common signs are constipation, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain.
The team took 200 adults with IBS and put them into two groups. One took a placebo while the other received a combination of the probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus (L acidophilus) LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp lactis (B animalis) BB-12.
LA-5 is usually found in fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir, while BB-12 is widely used in fermented dairy and infant formula.
Researchers found that after just one month, nearly 75 percent more participants improved their IBS symptoms than those on the placebo. After three months, 11 percent more IBS patients benefitted from the probiotics compared to the placebo.
Patients taking probiotics also saw higher amounts of nine groups of healthy bacteria in their gut microbiome, while those on the placebo had higher quantities of harmful bacteria.
A recent study found probiotics, taken by one in 20 Americans, may help ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (stock image)
The researchers wrote: ‘The results of this study represent the first evidence for the efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 as a probiotic blend in the treatment of non-constipated IBS in adults.’
The findings come amid a surge of IBS in the US and UK, as recent studies show the condition has become 28 percent more common in the past decade. Experts have blamed the rise on increased awareness and emerging evidence that Covid may harm the gut microbiome.
Experts estimate one in 20 Americans take probiotic supplements regularly. LA-5 and BB-12 are both available as supplements, costing anywhere from $15 to $60 for a month’s supply, depending on the brand.
The new study, published last month in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, looked at 200 adults between the ages of 18 and 65 who had been diagnosed with IBS without constipation.
The most common symptoms reported were bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The average age was 39, and nearly two-thirds of participants in both the probiotic and placebo groups were men.
Two-thirds also were diagnosed with IBS-D, which means diarrhea is their most prominent symptom, while the remainder had IBS-M, categorized as causing a mix of diarrhea and constipation.
Of the participants, 99 received the probiotics while 101 took the placebo. Participants took their assigned pills twice daily for 84 days.
Up to 40 participants also underwent stool tests to measure the composition of their microbiome before and after the experiment.
They filled out a daily symptom diary and had regular follow-up appointments to address their symptoms.
Lactobacillus acidophilus (L acidophilus) LA-5, pictured here, is a probiotic found in fermented foods like yogurt and kefir. It’s also sold as a supplement costing up to $60 for a month’s supply (stock image)
At the 28-day mark, 19 percent of probiotic patients had improved symptoms compared to nine percent on the placebo, a 75 percent difference. At 56 days, 37 percent of participants taking probiotics responded positively compared to 24 percent of people taking the placebo, a 43 percent difference.
At the end of the experiment, there was a positive response in 41 percent of people in the probiotic group compared to 37 percent in the placebo group.
The findings also showed that participants in the probiotic group had a higher amount of healthy bacteria in their microbiome by the end of the study than those in the placebo, which the researchers believe may have caused the improvements in their symptoms.
The team wrote: ‘Results from this study showed that a comparatively higher proportion of subjects responded to probiotic treatment compared to placebo administration.’
There were several limitations to the study, including the short duration and relying on self-reported symptoms.
