Probiotic therapy of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Probiotic therapy trials in IBS have produced conflicting results. It is unknown whether therapeutic efficacy can be optimized when the study is conducted in collaboration with primary care physicians. Methods: Two hundred ninety-seven patients (117: 180 males: females, 49.8±14.4 years of age) with lower abdominal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation) diagnosed as IBS according to the WONCA criteria of World Health Organization (WHO) primary care physicians (1983, 1998) were recruited in 10 primary care centers, and were treated for 8 weeks by the probiotic compound Pro-Symbioflor (R) (Symbiopharm Gm…