An interventional study of Probiotic and Maltodextrin in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sponsored by Children's Memorial Health Institute, Poland. Completed at 1 site in Poland. Open to participants aged 16 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-02-03.
Sponsored by Children's Memorial Health Institute, Poland · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common diseases of the digestive tract in adults, which pathogenesis is not fully understood. It is assumed that intestinal dysbiosis affecting the functioning of the gut-brain axis may be important. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered at the right dose, have a positive effect on human health. Probiotic mechanism of action is related to the modulation of intestinal microbiota. Clinical studies confirm that probiotics administered to patients with IBS have positive health effects. Clinical effects depend primarily on the selection of probiotic strains, but no less important is their viability and stability in the preparation administered to patients. Unfortunately, obtaining stability (a strictly defined number of live probiotic strains in the preparation throughout the shelf life of the preparation) is very technologically difficult. As shown by the audit of the Polish Supreme Audit Office (NIK), almost 90% of probiotics sold on the Polish market do not meet these criteria. There were probiotic preparations that by the end of their expiration date had less than 100 live bacterial cells from the declared number of about one billion. The only preparations that successfully passed NIK inspections turned out to be preparations in which the technology of double microcapsulation of bacteria was used. New technologies are constantly being sought that increase both the survival of bacterial strains in the preparation and the resistance of the strains to hydrochloric acid and bile, which in turn contributes to delivering the right dose of probiotics to the target site of activity, i.e. the small and large intestine. Recent developed an innovative technology called bacterial cryoprotection, which, compared to traditional lyophilization, leads to an increase in the stability of the bacterial cell wall membranes and protects them against negative factors both external (high temperature, humidity etc.) and internal (gastric acid, bile). Therefore, the purpose of the clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of cryoprotected probiotics in patients with IBS.
A 1- to 2-week screening period will be used to establish the presence and persistence of trial entry criteria and train patients in the mode of data collection. The screening period will also be used to select patients with specified levels of severity of signs and symptoms. During screening visit patients will undergo physical examination. Severity of IBS will be determined using the Francis, Morris and Whorwell's IBS severity scale (IBS-SSS): Mild \<175, Moderate 175-300, Severe >300. Number and type of stools will be measured in all patients using Bristol stool scale. All eligible patients who sign informed consent form will be randomized within 2 weeks to receive either probiotic product or placebo and will complete Quality of Life assessment measured using IBS-QOL questionnaire. They will also be instructed to restrain from consuming foods and dietary supplements containing probiotics according to the clinical study requirements. After receiving probiotic product/placebo, telephone interviewers will call patients 3 times per week, and they will collect the following information by the phone: type of stools (according to Bristol Stool Score), number of bowel movements per day and IBS symptoms measured in 5-point scale (abdominal pain, flatulence, feeling of incomplete evacuation). In addition, telephone interviewers will collect information regarding adverse effects and using new drugs during the study. Patients will report to the doctor 2 times during study every 4 weeks during 8 week lasting intervention to receive new dose of probiotic product/placebo and to be assessed by the doctor using IBS-SSS, IBS-GIS and IBS-AR questionnaires, They will also complete Quality of Life questionnaire.
Diagnosed with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) according to Rome III criteria, i.e. symptoms of recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort* and a marked change in bowel habit with symptoms experienced on at least three days a week of at least three months within last year. Pain/discomfort is related to a change in the appearance of stool, frequency of stool and improves with defecation.
* "Discomfort" means an uncomfortable sensation not described as pain.
The following subjects will be enrolled in the study:
The following medications are permitted during the course of the study, as long as they are used at a constant dosage and are commenced at least 1 month prior to study start:
Exclusion Criteria:
Multistrain probiotic mixture consisting of two Lactobacillus strains (L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus) and three Bifidobacterium strains (B. longum, B. bifidum and B. lactis) administered for 8 weeks in a dose 1,0E+10/day, 2x sachets/day (5,0E+9/cfu per sachet)
Dietary Supplement: Probiotic
Placebo - Maltodextrin manufactured with an appearance, taste and packaging (sachets) identical to the probiotic mixture administarted for 8 weeks 2x sachets/day
Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin
Multispecies probiotic mixture administered to patients according to the randomization list
Maltodextrin as placebo
Improvement or worsening of IBS global symptoms using Global Improvement Scale (IBS-GIS)
IBS-Global Improvement Scale asseses IBS symptoms using a patient-defined 7 point Linkert scale ranging from symptoms substantially worse to substantially improved. Patients answer the question "Have you felt any change in the severity of your symptoms over the past 7 days compared to how you felt before the medicine was given? The answers are recorded based on the 7-point scale: 1. = I feel that the symptoms have worsened significantly 2. = I feel that the symptoms have moderately worsened 3. = I feel that the symptoms have slightly worsened 4. = I feel no change 5. = I feel a slight improvement 6. = I feel moderate improvement 7. = I feel significant improvement IBS-GIS score indicates: improvement if is \>4 or worsening if is\<4, no change if is 4
Time frame: Improvement/worsening of global symptoms after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in severity of IBS symptoms using IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS)
IBS-Severity Scoring System is a 5-question survey that asks: 1. the severity of abdominal pain, 2. frequency of abdominal pain, 3. severity of abdominal distention, 4.dissatisfaction with bowel habit, and 5. interference with quality of life over the past 10 days. Subjects respond to each question on a 100-point visual analogue scale. Each of the five question generates a maximum score of 100 point, and total scores can range from 0-500 with higher scores indicating severe symptoms. A decrease of 50 points is associated with a clinically meaningful improvement.
Time frame: From baseline at 4 and 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in adequate relief of IBS symptoms (IBS-AR)
IBS-Adequate Relief (IBS-AR) is a dichotomous single item that asks participants "Over the past week (7 days) have you had adequate relief of your IBS symptoms? The answer is YES or NO.
Time frame: From baseline at 4 and 8 weeks of interventions
Changes in Quality of Life (IBS-QOL)
The IBS-Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) is a 34-item measure assessing the degree to which IBS interferes with patient quality of life. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, thus yielding a total score that has a theoretical range of 34 to 170, with higher scores indicating worse QOL.
Time frame: From baseline at 4 and 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in type of stools
Type of stool assessed before intervention and then 3 times a week. Type of stools assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale. Bristol Scale is designed to classify faeces into seven groups: type 1-2 indicate constipation, type 3-4 are "normal" stools; type 5-7 indicate diarrhea.
Time frame: From baseline for 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in severity of pain
The severity of pain assessed before intervention and then 3 times a week using a patient-defined 5 point Linkert scale: point 0 - no pain, and 1-4 the severity of pain with higher scores indicating worse pain.
Time frame: From baseline for 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in flatulence
The severity of flatulence assessed before intervention and then 3 times a week using a patient-defined 5 point Linkert scale: point 0 - no flatulence, and points1-4 with higher scores indicating worse flatulence
Time frame: From baseline for 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in feeling of incomplete evacuation of stool
The severity of incomplete evacuation of stool assessed before intervention and then 3 times a week using a patient-defined 5 point Linkert scale: point 0 - no feeling of incomplete evacuation of stool, and points1-4 with higher scores indicating worse feeling of incomplete evacuation of stool
Time frame: From baseline for 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in number of bowel movements per day
Number of bowel movements per day assessed before intervention and then 3 times a week.
Time frame: From baseline for 8 weeks of intervention
Changes in serum level of intestinal fatty acid binding protein
Intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) is a novel serological marker of disrupted enterocytes, and could be an indicator of increased intestinal permeability. The level is measured in patients' sera using commercially available kits.
Time frame: From baseline at 8 weeks of intervention
Plan to share: No
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Children's Memorial Health Institute, Poland