Research project led by Bailey Hanna, MS, RDN - no affiliate links, ads or sponsored products.
A pilot trial investigated the effects of Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus LCR35, administered at a dosage of 600 million CFU/day over a 4-week period. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving individuals with various subtypes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who had moderate IBS symptom severity.
Key Findings
IBS Subtype Analysis
Conclusion
This pilot trial evaluating Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus LCR35 for IBS did not show significant improvements in IBS symptoms compared to placebo. The only potential benefit observed was in the IBS-D subtype, where there was a notable reduction in abdominal pain severity. However, due to the small sample sizes, the evidence is insufficient to recommend Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus LCR35 for any IBS subtype.
Key Takeaways
Recommended Dose:
None
Reference:
Dapoigny M, Piche T, Ducrotte P, Lunaud B, Cardot JM, Bernalier-Donadille A. Efficacy and safety profile of LCR35 complete freeze-dried culture in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, double-blind study. World J Gastroenterol. 2012 May 7;18(17):2067-75. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i17.2067. PMID: 22563194; PMCID: PMC3342605 S
There is insufficient evidence demonstrating benefits for IBS with this probiotic. Therefore, we do not provide guidance on finding a commercial product containing this strain/blend.
This probiotic has low to moderate quality studies in IBS populations supporting it. View our evidence evaluation framework to learn how we assess the quality of studies.
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Efficacy and safety profile of LCR35 complete freeze-dried culture in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, double-blind study
World J Gastroenterol. 2012 May 7;18(17):2067-75
ADULTS
No data
In the overall population, the improvements in the IBS severity score with LCR35 and placebo were not significantly different.
At the end of the treatment period, both groups experienced a 25% decrease in severity scores (-63.2 ± 100.6 for LCR35 and -64.3 ± 95.9 for placebo; P = 0.9692).
Two weeks post-treatment, both groups maintained a 15% decrease from baseline (-40.6 ± 110.1 for LCR35 and -36.0 ± 109.5 for placebo; P = 0.8829).
At the end of the treatment period, both the test drug and the placebo showed similar improvements in abdominal pain severity scores. The test drug resulted in a change of -13.1 ± 20.5, while the placebo showed a change of -11.9 ± 27.5.
For patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, the placebo had no effect on the abdominal pain severity score after the 4-week treatment period (-0.1 ± 26.5). In contrast, the test drug led to a significant reduction in pain severity (-18.4 ± 26.3), which translates to a 36.6% ± 44.7% relative change.
However, due to the small sample size, no statistical analysis could be performed on these results.
Participants in the study completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) questionnaire. Throughout the study, there were no clinically significant changes in HAD scores for either the probiotic or placebo groups compared to their baseline measurements.
Unfortunately, the study manuscript did not provide additional details regarding the post-treatment scores.
Study participants completed a Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) questionnaire. The results showed that neither the probiotic group nor the placebo group experienced clinically relevant changes in GIQLI scores compared to their baseline measurements throughout the study.
Unfortunately, the study manuscript did not provide any additional details on the post-treatment scores.