Study: Probiotics Improve IBS Pain, Bloating

MONTREALA study published in the August issue of World Journal of Gastroenterology found Lactobacillus plantarum 299v relieved symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

 In the double blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers from Rouen University, France, gave more than 200 patients either L. plantarum 299v (Lallemand)  or a placebo (World J Gastroenterol. 2012 August 14; 18(30): 40124018). After four weeks, subjects taking the probiotics experienced less intense and severe abdominal pain, bloating and incomplete rectal evaluation. Nearly 80 percent of the probiotics patients rated the efficacy of the treatment as good or excellent, compared to 8 percent of the placebo group.

In December 2011, researchers released a comprehensive review of Lallemand's Lacidofil®, a multi-strain probiotic.