Probiotics and Prebiotics for the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-A Narrative Review
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Gastrointestinal functional disorders (GFDs), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), are imbalances in the gut-brain axis characterized by persistence of symptoms in the abdominal area. Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide benefits to the health of their hosts when administered in adequate amounts, while prebiotics are a substrate that is selectively used by host microorganisms. This narrative review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prebiotics and probiotics mostly in irritable bowel syndrome, particularly on issues such as the interaction between these products and the gut microbiota, the duration of supplementation and long-term effects, the definition of ideal dosages, and the regulation and quality control of these products. Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out in indexed databases and articles published within 10 years before the beginning of the study and publications in English language, which investigated the specific theme of the study were considered. Papers dealing with topics not covered by the research questions, or presenting errors related with the wrong population or the wrong methods, as well as experimental studies and case reviews were excluded. Fifty-five articles were selected, initially in isolation by the authors and, afterward, under consensus. Results: It was possible to observe the effectiveness mainly of probiotics, in improving specific symptoms of the respective disorder; however, the…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Patient-Centered Pharmaceutical Design to Improve Acceptability of Medicines: Similarities and Differences in Paediatric and Geriatric Populations
- Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for irritable bowel syndrome 2020
- Phase 2b Study of Pimodivir (JNJ-63623872) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Oseltamivir for Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Seasonal Influenza A: TOPAZ Trial
- Gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19
- COVID-19 and Gastrointestinal Disease: Implications for the Gastroenterologist
- Persistent gut barrier damage and commensal bacterial influx following eradication of Giardia infection in mice
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.