IBS: Treatment with Inactivated Bacteria Associated with Fewer Symptoms, Pain

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM

Treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with inactivated bacteria found in healthy colons brought greater symptom and pain relief than placebo, according to an industry-funded study in the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Over 400 adults with IBS were randomized to receive either daily oral placebo capsules or capsules of heat-inactivated, non-viable Bifidobacterium bifidum HI-MIMBb75.

During a median follow-up of 71 days, the treatment group was more likely to experience the composite outcome of at least a 30% improvement in abdominal pain plus significant relief of global IBS symptoms (34% vs. 19%). Seven patients would need to be treated for one to experience a benefit.

Commentators write: "The concept that a probiotic might be efficacious in IBS even if non-viable organisms are administered is an important observation. However, the benefit over placebo of the probiotic used, B. bifidum HI-MIMBb75, was not as impressive as has been recently reported with faecal microbial transfer in IBS, suggesting that optimisation of orally ingested bacterial therapy for IBS remains elusive."