Probiotic strain RH 3201 can relieve IBS-C symptoms likely by boosting beneficial gut bacteria of patients, observed researchers of an RCT.
“In addition to alleviating IBS-C symptoms, quality of life was significantly improved in the probiotic group compared to the placebo, particularly in emotional well-being and social functioning,” wrote researchers in Scientific Reports.
For example, irritant bowel movements and discomfort caused by constipation showed significant improvement with oral administration of RH 3201 over 8 weeks.
“Symptoms including severity of abdominal bloating, frequency of abdominal bloating, and satisfaction of bowel habits based on the irritable bowel syndrome-severity scoring system also ameliorated in the probiotic group,” said researchers.
These results indicate that RH 3201 was effective in ameliorating IBS-C, potentially by enriching beneficial microbes and associated metabolites in the gut environment.
Previous research has shown that RH 3201 has anti-inflammatory and anti-pathogenic effects on gut health.
Possible mechanisms of probiotic action in IBS-C have been suggested to include inhibition of pathogen binding, enhanced barrier function, anti-inflammation, alterations in visceral hypersensitivity, and modification of gut microbiota.
Building upon these findings, researchers designed a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess whether RH 3201 can improve the symptoms of IBS-C.
Daily supplementation of probiotics
The eight-week study was conducted at Seoul Songdo Hospital.
Thirty adult patients diagnosed with IBS-C were recruited. They were between 22 to 51 years old.
The participants were randomly assigned to two groups of 15, where they orally ingested one capsule a day over the trial period. The probiotic (RH 3201) and placebo capsules were provided by Pharmcross (Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea).
The probiotic group took the freeze-dried viable RH 3201, which contained maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, and RH 3201 at a dosage of 1 × 1010 CFU/capsule.
The placebo group took capsules that had the same composition, but these did not contain RH 3201. Orange colour powder was also added to give the capsules the same appearance as the RH 3201 ones.
To understand the mechanisms underlying gut health, researchers also conducted comprehensive analyses of microbiota and metabolites in participants’ faecal samples.
Two faecal samples per visit were collected from each participant at 0, 4, and 8 weeks.
Participants also completed questionnaires of bowel habits, IBS-Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS), and IBS-Quality of Life (IBS-QOL).
Overall improvement in IBS-C symptoms and quality of life
Over the 8-week intervention period, quality of life, bowel activities, IBS symptoms including abdominal bloating and dissatisfaction with bowel habits, showed significant improvement in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group.
By the end of eight weeks, the total score of IBS-QOL was significantly lower in the probiotic group at 48.7 ± 14.5 compared to the placebo group at 79.5 ± 33.0. The assessed items included dysphoria, interference with activity, body image, and health worry.
For the probiotic group, irritant bowel movements decreased from 5.2 ± 2.1 at baseline to 3.0 ± 1.6. Discomfort caused by constipation also decreased from 6.0 ± 2.2 to 2.3 ± 2.2.
For the placebo group, irritant bowl movements decreased from 6.3 ± 2.1 to 5.0 ± 2.5.
Discomfort caused by constipation decreased from 5.8 ± 2.1 to 4.3 ± 2.5.
Symptoms including severity of abdominal bloating, frequency of abdominal bloating, and satisfaction of bowel habits based on the IBS-SSS also showed significant improvement in the probiotic group as compared to the placebo group.
For example, the severity score of abdominal bloating was 25.0 ± 28.3 at the end of eight weeks for the probiotic group, and 48.3 ± 21.4 for the placebo group.
Furthermore, analysis of the faecal microbiome revealed that the abundance of Bacteroides cellulosilyticus and Akkermansia muciniphila was higher during the period of RH 3201 administration compared to the placebo.
These bacterial strains and metabolites were strongly linked to positive clinical outcomes, indicating that RH 3201’s interaction with carbohydrate-degrading bacteria and the enhancement of beneficial metabolite production may support intestinal health.
“In conclusion, this study indicates that the probiotic RH 3201 may contribute to the improvement of IBS-C symptoms by modulating faecal microbiota and their metabolite production,” said researchers.
However, this study has limitations in that the clinical outcomes were primarily based on the questionnaires; hence, physical assessments such as colonoscopy or stool tests would support the findings.
“In addition, further studies are necessary to elucidate a causal relationship and clarify the mechanism of action of this probiotic strain. With additional supporting mechanistic studies, RH 3201 has the potential to be a promising therapeutic candidate for treating IBS, offering valid functions and effective applications,” the researchers concluded.
Source: Scientific ReportsDOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72887-x“Effect of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 on irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial”
