May 19, 2020 – The findings from a clinical trial conducted by KGK Science studying the impact of two single strain probiotics on the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological well-being of individuals with certain IBS subtypes has been published in the peer-reviewed journal of human nutrition, Nutrients. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study contracted by Lallemand Health Solutions is the largest and most comprehensive study conducted in a North American population investigating the efficacy and potential application of probiotics strains on multiple IBS subtypes. The study examined Lactobacillus paracasei HA-196 (L. paracasei) and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 (B. longum) in 251 adults with either constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), or mixed-pattern (IBS-M), with favorable results being found in the frequency of bowel movements and improvements in quality of life in both emotional well-being and social functioning.
The recording of IBS intensity is highly subjective making clinical studies in this area challenging. Despite these challenges, this study’s findings suggest that both L. paracasei HA-196 and B. longum R0175 play a role in mitigating the effects of IBS in certain subtypes. Found to exert both strain-specific and dose-dependent effects, a case can be made for additional clinical trials to foster the development of more efficient probiotic blends tailored to the needs of IBS patients.
“The data suggests that probiotic efficacy may be dependent on the IBS subtype and cautions against considering all IBS patients as a homogenous population which has led to controversy in published results,” says Dr. Mal Evans, Chief Scientific Officer at KGK Science. “The study design meets certain criteria, including a dose of at least 10 bacterial billion count and an 8-week intervention that has been recently identified as ideal features of an effective probiotic. The results of this study suggest a clinically relevant role for L. paracasei HA-196 and B. longum R0175. Considering the multifactorial etiology of IBS, the results support that of others, indicating an emerging role for probiotics as an adjunctive therapy in treating IBS.”
As a leading contract research organization conducting human clinical trials for the natural health product industry for over 22 years, KGK Science has developed a specialization for designing studies that examine the efficacy and safety of probiotic and prebiotic strains. This latest publication sites several randomized clinical trials from across the industry which also supports the potential use of probiotics in IBS management based on the beneficial effects on GI health as well as their strong history of safe use.
Read the full research paper for more details on this new research from KGK Science.
Efficacy of Lactobacillus paracasei HA-196 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 in Alleviating Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
Erin D. Lewis, Joseph M. Antony, David C. Crowley, Amanda Piano, Renu Bhardwaj, Thomas A. Tompkins, and Malkanthi Evans
Nutrients 2020, 12(4)
Contact: Lauren Redman, Director of Marketing | (519) 438-9374 x 254 | lredman@kgkscience.com