Abstract
Dysbiosis is a condition that can cause various clinical disorders, from gastrointestinal problems to allergies or even cancer. Resetting the microbiota using antibiotics and/or probiotics could be a possible therapy for many diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of three treatment regimens in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The regimens were short-term rifaximin treatment (10 days) followed by either a nutraceutical agent (G1) or a low- Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Monosaccharide and Polyol (FODMAP) diet (24 days) (G3) or treatment with MegaSporeBiotic a mixture of spores of five Bacillus spp. for medium-term (34 days) (G2). Ninety patients with IBS without constipation were enrolled and divided into three groups (G1, G2, G3). Patients in G1 and G3 were evaluated over four visits (baseline/first day (V1), 10 days (V2), 34 days (V3), 60 days (V4)), and, those in G2 over three visits (V1, V3, V4). Severity score, quality of life, and parameters from the rectal volume sensation test were determined. The results demonstrated that patients treated with MegaSporeBiotic, compared with those treated with rifaximin followed by nutraceutical or low-FODMAP diet, had similar severity scores and rectal volume sensation test results for all parameters tested and statistically significant improvement in measurements of quality of life.
Highlights
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal functional disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort in association with changes in consistency or frequency of stool
The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of short-term treatment (10 days) with rifaximin, followed by 24 days of low-FODMAP diet or treatment with a nutraceutical agent containing a combination of prebiotics, probiotics and vitamins, with the effects of long-term treatment (34 days) with MegaSporeBiotic
Bacillus spp. (MegaSporeBiotic) on IBS Severity Score (IBS-SS), IBS-quality of life (QL) and rectal volume sensation in IBS patients to two standard treatment regimens for these patients: Rifaximin followed by a nutraceutical agent (Lactobacillus strain, prebiotics and vitamins) or rifaximin followed by a low-FODMAP diet
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal functional disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort in association with changes in consistency or frequency of stool (diarrhea or constipation). This definition is in line with the Rome III criteria, because the new criteria (Rome IV). Many studies have investigated IBS, the pathophysiology remains unclear and controversial. Several mechanisms have been extensively investigated ranging from inflammation and immunological involvement to dysbiosis, brain–gut interaction, genetic or dietary factors [3,4,5,6,7]. In addition to standard pharmacological treatment, alternative/integrative therapeutic approaches are needed
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