Research project led by Bailey Hanna, MS, RDN - no affiliate links, ads or sponsored products.
Based on the results from one high quality randomized, placebo-controlled trial, this 14-strain probiotic may be helpful for people with IBS-D.1 In this study, the probiotic was taken at a dose of 8 billion CFU/day (2 capsules, 2x/day, with or before meals) for 16 weeks, and was found to improve symptoms such as abdominal pain, IBS quality of life, and global IBS symptom severity. Symptom improvement appeared to begin within the first month of supplementation, extending even to one month after supplementation ended. If your medical provider gives you the green light to give this one a try, aim for at least a minimum trial duration of 1 month. Just keep in mind that we only have data on this strain in IBS-D, so its effects are unknown in other IBS subtypes.
Key Takeaway:
Based on evidence from one high quality clinical trial, this 14 strain probiotic appears to be a reasonable probiotic option for people with IBS-D.
Dosing:
Trial Duration
Reference:
Since Bio-Kult makes a variety of formulations using their probiotic blend, you want to look for one that delivers the strains at the dose that has been clinically studied in IBS populations.
This probiotic has higher quality studies in IBS populations supporting it. View our evidence evaluation framework to learn how we assess the quality of studies.
Add condition
A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial of a multi-strain probiotic formulation (Bio-Kult®) in the management of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome
BMC Gastroenterol 2018 May 25;18(1):71
ADULTS
From month 2 and lasting through month 5, there was a statistically significant improvement in the IBS-SSS score for the highest number of bowel movements per day compared to a placebo. At the 5-month follow-up, participants saw a 59% mean decrease in daily bowel movements, dropping from an average of 6.1 ± 2.6 to 2.5 ± 1.4 per day. At the end of treatment in month 4, the effect size was strong with Cohen’s d = 0.92, and the results were highly significant (p < .001).
No data
Starting from month 1 and continuing through month 5, there was a notable improvement in the IBS-SSS score for bowel symptoms when compared to a placebo. By the 5-month follow-up, participants experienced a significant 62.6% reduction in their bowel symptom scores. At the end of treatment in month 4, the effect size was moderate with Cohen’s d = 0.78, and the results were highly significant (p < .001).
By the 5-month follow-up, the overall IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) was reduced by 223 points, amounting to a 66.9% reduction from baseline. Significant symptom improvement compared to placebo was observed starting at the 1-month analysis.
At the end of treatment in month 4, the effect size was small with Cohen’s d = 0.29, and the results were highly significant (p < .001).
Initially, all patients rated their symptoms as moderate to severe. By the end of the follow-up period, 52.5% of patients in the multi-strain probiotic group rated their symptoms as mild, compared to 39.1% in the placebo group (p < 0.001).
Additionally, 33.7% of patients in the multi-strain probiotic group were symptom-free, compared to only 12.8% in the placebo group (p < 0.001).
From month 1 through the month 5 follow-up, there was a statistically significant improvement in the IBS-SSS score for abdominal pain compared to placebo.
Abdominal pain was significantly reduced by 69% in the probiotic group from baseline after supplementation, with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.72; p < .001 at the end of month 4).
Additionally, there was a statistically significant improvement in the IBS-SSS score for the number of days with pain in the last 10 days compared to placebo, starting from month 1 and continuing through the month 5 follow-up.
At the month 5 follow-up, there was a 71.4% decrease in this parameter, dropping from an average of 7.7 ± 2.3 days to 2.2 ± 1.9 days, with a moderate effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.48; p < .001 at the end of month 4).
Starting from month 1 and continuing through month 5, there was a statistically significant improvement in the IBS-SSS score for abdominal distention compared to a placebo. By the 5-month follow-up, participants experienced a 66.5% decrease in distention scores from baseline.
At the end of treatment in month 4, the effect size was moderate with Cohen’s d = 0.78, and the results were highly significant (p < .001).
By the 5-month measurement, mean IBS-QOL scores in the probiotic group improved by 219% from baseline. In contrast, the placebo group experienced a mean improvement of 112% in IBS-QOL scores.
The change in IBS-QOL scores was statistically significant in favor of the probiotic group, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.07; p < .001 at the end of month 4).
This study was conducted exclusively in an IBS-D population. All reported results pertain to IBS-D.