Premium
Review article: probiotics for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome – focus on lactic acid bacteria
Author(s) -
Clarke G.,
Cryan J. F.,
Dinan T. G.,
Quigley E. M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04965.x
Subject(s) - irritable bowel syndrome , medicine , tolerability , intensive care medicine , adverse effect , clinical trial , functional gastrointestinal disorder , medline , disease , psychiatry , political science , law
Summary Background Irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) is a poorly understood, yet highly prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder ( FGID ). The withdrawal, due to adverse events, of a number of pharmacological agents that were approved for the treatment of IBS has left a therapeutic vacuum for patients suffering from the disorder. Aim To review, summarise and critically evaluate current knowledge of lactic acid bacteria ( LAB ) used to treat IBS . Methods We assessed a comprehensive range of relevant literature from Pubmed, Medline and online sources based on our definition of LAB which included both typical and atypical species, covering Lactobacilli , Bifidobacteria , Enterococci , Streptococci and Bacilli . Results Of the 42 trials evaluated examining the efficacy of LAB in IBS , 34 reported beneficial effects in at least one of the endpoints or symptoms examined, albeit with tremendous variation in both the magnitude of effect and the choice of outcome under consideration. However, numerous concerns have been expressed over deficits of trial design and execution relating to strain selection, optimum dosage, mode of action, safety and long‐term tolerability in a disorder that can persist throughout the lifetime of affected individuals. Conclusions Progress in the field will require an improved understanding of how the microbiota impacts on health and disease, adequately powered long‐term multicentre trials and the embracing of bench to bedside approaches. Recent incremental advances suggest these areas are being addressed and that the future holds much promise for the use of lactic acid bacteria in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome .