Efficacy and Safety of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2020, Vol 20, Issue 1
Abstract
Treatments that target alterations in gut microbiota may be beneficial for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. Factors considered in the analysis included global IBS symptoms and/or abdominal pain, secondary symptoms and the frequency of adverse events. A total of 33 RCTs involving 4,321 patients were identified. Overall, probiotics significantly improved global IBS symptoms compared to placebos (standardised mean difference = −0.32, 95% confidence interval: −0.48 to −0.15; P <0.001), with significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 72%; P <0.001). This remained apparent in both single- and multi-strain probiotic interventions as well as synbiotic formulations. However, evidence regarding prebiotics was scarce. There were no significant inter-group differences in terms of the frequency of adverse events. Future RCTs should address methodological limitations, including short follow-up periods and patient adherence.
Authors and Affiliations
Mohammad Z. Asha, Sundos F. H. Khalil
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP678530
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2020.20.01.003
- Views 273
- Downloads 0
Diagnostic Screening Workflow for Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes
Objectives: Screening for mutations in large genes is challenging in a molecular diagnostic environment. Sanger-based DNA sequencing methods are largely used; however, massively parallel sequencing (MPS) can accommodat...
Developing Communication Skills for the General Practice Consultation Process
Medical curriculum revisions all over the world in the last 20 years have increased the number of teaching hours in communication skills. Tis article describes a concrete communication skills teaching programme focused...
Group A Streptococcal Pericarditis in a Four-Month-Old Infant Case report
Purulent pericarditis is uncommon among paediatric patients and cases caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS) are even rarer. We report a four-month-old female infant who was referred to the Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman,...
Adult Onset Still’s Disease in Oman
Objective: To . Highlight the demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory investigations and outcome if possible of a relatively rare disease (Adult Onset Still’s Disease {AOSD}) and 2. To compare ou...
Health Care Market Deviations from the Ideal Market
A common argument in the health policy debate is that market forces allocate resources efficiently in health care, and that government intervention distorts such allocation. Rarely do those making such claims state exp...