Published online Feb 21, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i7.732
Peer-review started: September 7, 2021
First decision: November 8, 2021
Revised: November 18, 2021
Accepted: January 19, 2022
Article in press: January 19, 2022
Published online: February 21, 2022
Processing time: 163 Days and 0.9 Hours
Some probiotics have been shown efficacy on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.
However, little data is available on the effectiveness of probiotics on IBS severity and quality of life.
To assess in real life settings efficacy of treatment with B. longum 35624 on IBS severity and quality of life.
To assess in an observational study on IBS patients defined according to Rome IV criteria, the effect of a 30 d of treatment with B. longum 35624 on the disease severity (IBS severity scoring system) and quality of life (IBS quality of life questionnaire).
After one month of treatment, the severity and quality of life improved in approximately two-thirds and one-third of patients respectively, especially in more severe patients with changes to lower severity categories in more than half of the patients. A gradual improvement in stool consistency was also observed in all transit sub-types.
In IBS patients defined according to Rome IV criteria, a 30 d treatment with B. longum 35624 reduces the disease severity and improves the quality of life even in patients with severe disease that were excluded of most published studies.
Future research should help to define predictors of good response to probiotic therapy and should study responses to prolonged therapy for this chronic disease.