The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine is conducting a research study on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common condition in North America. It is a long term, recurring gastrointestinal disorder that is estimated to affect 30% of the general population. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and cramps, and bowel dysfunction such as diarrhea and bloating. The medicines that are currently used to help people with IBS are not as effective as we would like them to be. These medicines are usually only prescribed to reduce the pain of IBS and not actually treat the disorder itself. Recently, scientists have found that probiotics (beneficial bacteria that live inside humans) may help reduce the painful symptoms and diarrhea that are part of IBS. This research is being conducted to determine whether this particular combination of three probiotic bacteria (named Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum) will reduce the symptoms of IBS.
The purpose of this trial is to investigate the effects of the three strain probiotic, Kyo-Dophilus, on the symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The primary objective of this trial is to determine the effectiveness of Kyo-Dophilus on the symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in an adult population diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome by ROME III criteria and classified as mild through the Irritable Bowel Severity Scoring System and to measuring quality of life and global well being of patients through the Visual Analog Scale and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Quality of Life Questioner. The secondary objective is to assess the tolerability of the treatment through the use of study diaries.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
128
The Kyo-Dophilus study product is a gelatin capsule containing three proprietary probiotic bacterial strains. The total quantity of bacteria per capsule is 1.5 billion colony forming units (1.5 x 109 cfu) and is composed of the following strains: * Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13 1.2 * Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1 0.15 * Bifidobacterium longum MM-2 0.15 Subjects will be provided with two bottles containing 30 capsules each of matching placebo upon randomization. Subjects will be instructed to take one capsule with breakfast daily for the full 12 weeks duration of the trial. While one bottle contains enough capsules for the time frame between each visit, two bottles have been provided to permit a surplus in the event scheduling conflicts arise. The third bottle, providing the remainder or study capsules, will be provided at visit 2.
Subjects will be provided with two bottles containing 30 capsules each of matching placebo upon randomization. Subjects will be instructed to take one capsule with breakfast daily for the full 12 weeks duration of the trial. While one bottle contains enough capsules for the time frame between each visit, two bottles have been provided to permit a surplus in the event scheduling conflicts arise. The third bottle, providing the remainder or study capsules, will be provided at visit 2.
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The irrtable bowel severity scoring system is the primary outcome measure
Irritable bowel severity scoring system is a validated questionnaire used to monitor IBS (Francis et al, 1997).
Time frame: 12 weeks (between baseline and end of study)
Tolerability of the treatment will be assessed through the use of study diaries in which adverse events will be recorded.
Time frame: 12 weeks
The Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Quality of Life Questionnaire
This is a validated quality of life questionnaire (Patrick et al, 1998)
Time frame: 12 weeks (baseline and end of study)
Visual Analogue Scale
Patient rated 0-6 (7 point)questionnaire on the severity of IBS symptoms
Time frame: 12 weeks (baseline and end of study)
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