Digestive Diseases and Sciences | 2019
Effectiveness of Sterilized Symbiotic Drink Containing Lactobacillus helveticus Comparable to Probiotic Alone in Patients with Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to objectively investigate whether the addition of polydextrose to sterilized probiotic containing Lactobacillus helveticus will confer benefits to constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients.MethodsA total of 163 patients were randomized into two groups: Group A to consume 350\xa0mL of sterilized probiotic with 5.85\xa0g polydextrose daily for 1\xa0week and Group B without polydextrose. Intestinal transit time, fecal pH, fecal weight, and modified Garrigues questionnaires for pre- and post-consumption were assessed.ResultsMedian intestinal transit time was significantly reduced from 58 (IQR 43–72) to 45 (IQR 24–59) hours and 48 (IQR 31–72) to 30 (IQR 24–49) hours for Groups A and B, respectively (p\u2009<\u20090.01). Fecal pH for Groups A and B was significantly reduced from 6.57\u2009±\u20090.96 to 6.13\u2009±\u20090.95 (p\u2009=\u20090.003) and 6.58\u2009±\u20091.0 to 5.87\u2009±\u20090.83 (p\u2009<\u20090.001), respectively. Fecal weight for Group A was significantly increased from 8\xa0g\u2009±\u20096.4\xa0g to 9.8\xa0g\u2009±\u20097.6\xa0g (p\u2009=\u20090.003), but it was reduced for Group B from 13.3\xa0g\u2009±\u200919.4\xa0g to 11.2\xa0g\u2009±\u20096.6\xa0g (p\u2009=\u20090.308). Constipation-related symptoms were significantly improved for both groups.ConclusionsThe addition of polydextrose to sterilized probiotic containing L. helveticus did not show significant benefits to constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients. However, daily consumption of sterilized probiotic containing L. helveticus with or without polydextrose for a week alleviated constipation-related symptoms and objectively reduced both fecal pH and intestinal transit time.