The role of probiotics in current algorithms for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A review

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a widespread disease that affects working-age people and significantly reduces their quality of life. Many experts have suggested that the colon microflora in patients with IBS is characterized by dysbiosis, which leads to increased fermentation, excessive gas formation, and symptoms typical of the disease. Currently, alterations of the intestinal microbiota are considered one of the main mechanisms of IBS development, which warrants the use of probiotics with proven effectiveness as a part of the complex therapy. Certain probiotic strains (including Bifidobacterium longum 35624 and Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745) have been shown to be effective in normalizing stool frequency and consistency in IBS patients, regressing abdominal pain, and normalizing quality of life.