Novel probiotic blend alleviates functional GI symptoms

A recent study has shown a five-strain probiotic blend to be safe and effective in patients with functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

The blend, which contained Bl-04, Bi-07, HN019, NCFM, and Lpc-37, was developed and evaluated in 188 patients (mean age 44.1 years, 72.3 percent female). Treatment was administered as an oral capsule once daily for 30 days. All patients completed the GI Health Symptom Questionnaire to record changes in GI symptoms.

At day 30, a huge proportion of the population (85.1 percent) achieved the primary efficacy endpoint of patient-reported improvement in overall GI well-being.

Diarrhoea frequency (baseline ≥3 to 4 days/week) and severity (baseline ≥5/10) improved for 75.8 percent and 87.3 percent of patients, respectively. With regard to constipation, frequency (baseline ≥3 to 4 days/week) decreased in 73.6 percent of the patients, while severity (baseline ≥5/10) improved in 80.4 percent.

Most patients also saw improvements in frequency and severity of straining, urgency, abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, and distention.

The favourable changes in symptoms reported at day 30 were generally observable at day 14. There were no safety signals identified.