Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, occurs when the muscles of the walls that line the intestines contract with greater force and longer duration than normal. In some cases, this causes foods that you've eaten to move more quickly through the intestines, leading to flatulence, pain and abdominal distension. In other patients, IBS may cause the opposite effect, with food moving slowly through the digestive system. Probiotics -- a group of live microorganisms that deliver health benefits -- may be helpful in treating IBS.
Treatment of Diarrhea
Difficulty with evacuation of the bowels is a frequent occurrence for patients with IBS, though the nature of this difficulty varies. For some, the bowels evacuate too quickly. These patients may experience a sudden, urgent need to use the bathroom and excrete loose, watery stools. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, probiotics have demonstrated effectiveness in treating diarrhea associated with IBS.
Constipation Relief
In direct contrast to IBS patients who experience diarrhea, other individuals may have difficulty passing stool, and they may experience cramps and straining when attempting to have a bowel movement. Probiotics may be able to help with constipation-predominant IBS. According to Mississippi Baptist Health Systems, the probiotic bacteria known as Bifidobacterium animalis were found to be helpful in reducing the symptoms of constipation-predominant IBS.
Abdominal Pain Relief
Abdominal pain is one of the most frequent symptoms of IBS. Gas and distension of the abdomen are thought to contribute to the pain in patients with this disorder. According to the journal "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics," inflammation of the internal organs is thought to cause hypersensitivity in patients with IBS. Probiotics are thought to aid in the reduction of abdominal pain by reducing inflammation and inhibiting the visceral pain pathways, while the probiotic bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus is attributed to increasing the activity of neural opioid and cannabinoid receptors, which are associated with pain relief.
Reduction in Bloating and Gas
The disruption of the normal digestive processes due to IBS often causes a buildup of gas within the bowels; this can lead to abdominal distension and flatulence. According to Dr. Robin Spiller of the School of Medical and Surgical Sciences at Nottingham University, as noted in the journal "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics," several types of probiotic microorganisms, including lactobacillus reuteri and lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, have been associated with relief from these symptoms.
References
- "Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Probiotics and Prebiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome; R. Spiller; June 2008
- "World Journal of Gastroenterology"; Meta-analysis of Probiotics for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Lynne V. McFarland; May 2007
- University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics: Probiotics Are More Effective than Placebo in Treating the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Mississippi Baptist Health Systems: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- American College of Gastroenterology: New Studies Examine the Effectiveness of Probiotics in IBS
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