thermophilus had increased significantly in the probiotics group after 4 weeks and that B. lactis had increased in the placebo group. Multispecies probiotics are effective in IBS patients and induce the alterations in the composition of intestinal microbiota. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disease that presents as abdominal pain or discomfort with abnormalities of stool consistency and frequency. IBS is a common chronic gastrointestinal disorder and results in reduced

health-related quality of life.[1] The RXDX-106 clinical trial pathophysiology of IBS is not completely understood but probably involves a variety of factors. These include gut motor dysfunction, visceral hypersensitivity, dysregulation of the brain-gut axis, post-infectious bowel changes, altered intestinal microbiota, and psychological factors.[2] Attempts to treat patients with IBS have been based on different approaches, depending on the different see more factors involved.[3] There is a growing interest in the relationship between gut microbiota and human health and disease.[4] Alterations in intestinal microbiota (employing probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics and antibiotics) are used in attempts to treat gastrointestinal disorders including IBS.[5] Probiotics are effective in the treatment of IBS symptoms, but the most effective species are unclear.[6, 7] The composition of gut microbiota in patients with IBS is different to that in healthy people,[8]

and this fact underpins the use of probiotics in IBS treatment. However, although treatment with multispecies probiotics rather than a single organism relieve some IBS symptoms, it is not clear which organisms induce the change in intestinal microbiota.[6] The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the efficacy of multispecies probiotics in treating IBS. We assessed the effects of multispecies probiotics on IBS symptoms in comparison 上海皓元 with placebo and evaluated alterations in gut microbiota after probiotics therapy by

analyzing fecal microflora. Patients who were eligible for this study were aged 19–75 years and were diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome III diagnostic criteria. A colonoscopy or barium enema study had been performed in all patients within the previous 5 years. Exclusion criteria included a history of organic bowel disease (e.g. colon cancer, intestinal tuberculosis and inflammatory bowel disease), acute or chronic liver/kidney disease, significant allergic disorders (e.g. asthma), previous major abdominal surgery other than appendectomy, uncontrolled thyroid disease, and acute illness within the previous 2 weeks. No alcoholics, pregnant or nursing women were included. Patients who were using probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, corticosteroids, antidepressants, antihistamines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and other drugs that affect intestinal motility (e.g.