Background: The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) lead to considerable impairment of health-related quality of life and high health care costs. Available therapies are not efficient in treating the symptoms of IBS. Studies have shown the beneficial effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856. Therefore, this study was done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 in the treatment of IBS.
Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study. One hundred newly diagnosed subjects with IBS were subgrouped into IBS-D, IBS-C, and IBS-M and then randomized to the S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 and placebo groups. Saccharomyces cerevisiae/placebo was administered in addition to standard treatment for a period of 8 weeks. Subjects were assessed for improvement of abdominal pain and change in stool consistency using a 7-point Likert scale and Bristol stool scale respectively.
Results: The mean reduction of abdominal pain score in the S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 group was statistically significant when compared with the placebo group (p < 0.001). Similar improvement was also seen in the subgroups. Improvement in stool consistency in IBS-D subgroup at the end of treatment period was found to be statistically significant in S. cerevisiae group when compared to that of placebo (p < 0.001). A similar improvement was seen in the IBS-C and IBS-M subgroups. No serious adverse events were recorded in both groups.
Conclusion: The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 in IBS at a dose of 2 billion CFU twice daily for 8 weeks has shown to have an improvement in abdominal pain and stool consistency due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in subjects with IBS.
Keywords: Bristol stool scale; Functional GI disorders; Likert scale; Probiotics; Rome III criteria.