Health Experts
Nutritionist
Your nutrition question answered
Dr Pamela Mason, who is a qualified pharmacist and nutritionist, answers a reader's question about IBS
Will probiotics ease my IBS?
Q: My doctor says I may have recently developed IBS. I see from information given to me that probiotics such as lactobacillus plantarum and bifidocterium breve bro may ease symptoms. Please could you tell me which products contact these bacteria?
A: People with IBS respond to dietary changes in different ways. There is nothing that’s certain to work for everyone. It is important to try to eat as healthily as possible, drink plenty of fluid and take plenty of exercise. If your symptoms are mainly constipation, increasing the fibre conetnt of your diet may help, but if diarrhoea is your main problem, then more fibre may not help.
Probiotics containing lactobacillus strains seem to be the most effective and a daily dose of 5-10 million organisms seems to be adequate if the product is going to help (more than 20 million organisms a day seems to have no additional benefit). Lactobacillus plantarum has been the subject of scientific trials in IBS and it has been shown to be effective in decreasing abdominal bloating. There was one product available in the UK (called ProViva, made in Sweden) that was used in scientific trials but seems no longer to be available in the UK. Quest make a tablet containing this probiotic (Lp299v) which is available on the internet and you may also find it in some health food shops and pharmacies. There is another product called ProBion which contains L plantarum. I'm afraid I don't know whether they will be effective for you or not. Products like Actimel and Yakult also contain lactobacillus but not lactobacillus plantarum. However, some people find these products and others containing lactobacillus effective for IBS, while other people say they don't work for them. It really is a matter of trying.
There is evidence too from scientific research that bifidocterium breve bro can help the symptoms of IBS. However, I don't know of any products available in the UK that contain this probiotic.
Have you contacted the IBS network? This is a support group and they give details of local self-help groups and other help and information.
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.