IBS is a digestive disorder causing stomach pains and reduced bowel function. Probiotics are a new idea for IBS treatment, but their effectiveness is mixed. Bifidobacterium has been shown to reduce symptoms, but other strains have had mixed results. IBS sufferers should discuss probiotics with their doctor and keep a diary of their effects.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder characterized by intense stomach pains and reduced bowel function. Up to 15% of the population is thought to suffer from IBS, although its cause is not yet known. Common symptoms include stomach pains, diarrhea, constipation and cramps. Probiotics for IBS are a relatively new idea, and tests of their effectiveness have yielded mixed results.
Irritable bowel syndrome is often diagnosed after doctors have ruled out other diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and ulcerative colitis. Sufferers show no bowel damage and usually do not lose weight as a result of the condition. Treatment for IBS is usually a blend of medications to treat symptoms, including prescription drugs to regulate bowel movements, nutritional diet changes, psychotherapy, and stress management techniques.
A frequently recommended diet change for IBS sufferers is the introduction of probiotics into the diet. Probiotics are a group of bacteria that are thought in large numbers to boost the immune system and balance out the “bad” bacteria that can cause digestive problems, such as stomach inflammation. These claims have led to the creation of a slew of products boasting a rise in probiotics and these have increasingly been marketed as probiotics for IBS sufferers.
Probiotics might ease digestive discomfort, but there has been very limited medical research into these claims. A strain of probiotic, bifidobacterium, has been shown to reduce symptoms such as bloating and stomach pains, and has been prescribed by doctors as a possible drug for digestive upsets. Other probiotic strands for IBS sufferers have had mixed results in testing, with some having no effect on the sufferer and some increasing sensitivity and perhaps making symptoms worse.
The effectiveness of probiotics for IBS is relative to each individual person and the severity of their IBS. For the best results, IBS sufferers should discuss their plans with their doctor and seek their medical advice. A doctor should be able to advise IBS sufferers as to whether probiotics are likely to work in a particular case or whether they could make the sufferer’s digestive discomfort worse. Doctors might also advise sufferers to consume probiotic foods, which are a much cheaper source of probiotics and may be specially designed for IBS sufferers.
Probiotics should be added slowly to one’s diet and the IBS sufferer should keep a record of how they feel after consuming these products. After several weeks of keeping this diary, the patient can take the results to their doctor. If there has been a noticeable improvement, probiotics may be a helpful way for that person to control their IBS symptoms. If you notice a decline, however, you should stop taking probiotics and discuss the situation with your doctor.
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