probiotics success - any long term information?
#327059 - 03/23/08 05:53 AM
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Claudie
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 27
Loc: Australia
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Recently I've been doing lots of research on probiotics and for the last 3 weeks have been taking one called IBS support http://www.ethicalnutrients.com.au/featured%20product-ibs.htm (Aust) which has 15 billion lactobacillus plantarum organisms in it. During this time I have had no D at all and no urgency (and I have been eating some things that I know usually bother me). I have still had 3 - 4 BM's/day - more than I would like but manageable. Another organism which is supposed to be helpful is called Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (which is in Align, available in the US) and in a product I can get here called OMX Probiotic Formula http://www.omx.co.nz I might try this next. I wondered if anyone has had any long term success with any probiotic?
I'm asking because I have always suspected there was a connection with bacteria. I first got very bad D which wouldn't go away after taking a probiotic with lactobifidus and acidophilus in it. After a while I was diagnosed with IBS 8 years ago and my gastroenterologist put me on 3 courses of very strong antibiotics and for 14 weeks after I was completely normal - I was so thrilled and thought I was cured. Then the IBS D came back. He put me on the courses again and this time I was symptom free for 8 weeks but it all came back again. I've tried it again since but this regime now has no effect and I have had multiple other treatments over the years with limited success. I am interested to know if taking probiotics longterm works and what the best strains are? It's early days but I am starting to get excited again.
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IBS D
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Reports of a short term decrease in IBS symptoms after antibiotic treatment are prevalent in the IBS research literature. The reasons for this are unknown. Reports on long term studies of probiotics have yet to be published may be because it is too early in the research cycle for long term studies to have been conducted.
Your experience with lactobacillus plantarum appears to coincide with the reports given in the reference #6 on the web site you provide a link to. This study was a small study done in Poland involving 20 IBS suffers and 20 normal individuals. 10 IBS suffers reported a partial improvement in their symptoms - primarily pain. 6 of 10 IBS-C suffers reported an improvement in stool frequency.
The largest study to date was done with Bifidobacterium infantis 35624. The effective dose for this probiotic was 100 million CFU ( colony forming units ) and it provided relief from a range of IBS symptoms. No efficacy was shown at a lower dose of 1 million CFU.
Looking at the OM-X web site the amounts of the various organism in the complicated mixture it contains are not given. You might contact the vendor and ask how much Bifidobacterium infantis it contains. It could be quite low. Also, you might wish to consider how much IF this probiotic preparation has because it contains a variety other organic ingredients.
It looks like you can get Natren products in Australia. The have a product called Life Start 2 that only contains Bifidobacterium infantis. You can get in capsules or powder form (2 billion cfu per 1/2 tsp). It appears to be available through Life Span in these locations.
Probiotics appear to be have promising potential as a management aid for IBS. A recent review of the probiotic literature (see reference below) found that only some species of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium have been reported some efficacy for IBS with Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 being reported the most effective. A recent study (see second reference below) demonstrated superiority for bifidobacterium infantis 35624 over both a lactobacillus and placebo for abdominal pain/discomfort, distension/bloating and difficult defecation as well as for a composite score. However, it may be some time before they know exactly which probiotics are effective and in what doses.
Tell us how it goes with your probiotic experiment. Good luck 
Reference
Zuccotti, G. V., F. Meneghin, C. Raimondo, D. Dilillo, C. Agostoni, E. Riva, and M. Giovannini, 2008: Probiotics in clinical practice: An overview. Journal of International Medical Research, 36, 1A-53A
Quigley, E. M. M., 2007: Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Immunomodulatory Strategy? J Am Coll Nutr, 26, 684S-690.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Can this probiotic be ordered from the US? I've been looking for a probiotic with a strong strain of plantarum, as I have read that it is good for the pain/bloat symptoms of IBS.
I didn't see a place on the website to order...or did I just miss it?
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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Thanks for your detailed reply Syl. You sound a bit similar to me only I can tolerate fructose - have you tried any probiotics yourself? I've emailed Lifespan the Aust distributor for Natren products as they don't list Lifestart 2 to see if I can get it here. I'm a bit uneasy about it as I can only tolerate a very small amount of lactose and it contains whole goat milk powder. Today I have had a not so good day - I took my food experimenting too far, had 3 tablespoons of cream and am paying for it, so I will still have to be very careful with lactose and fat. The OMX Probiotic Formula is suitable for lactose intolerant people but I agree, it contains a lot of other stuff. I'll see if I can find out how much Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 it contains.
Jordy, I don't know if you can get IBS support in the states. Ethical nutrients who make it are an Australian company. Their product has to be kept cold but I have contacted them and the lactobacillus plantarum organisms stay viable for quite a while out of the fridge, here is an excerpt from their reply:
"Temperature (degrees C) Time guaranteed to be above label potency
40 48 hrs
30 14 days
25 4 months
4 2 years
The results show the product to be very tolerant to prolonged periods
of storage and to variations in transport conditions without harming the bacteria".
I would think that there must be a similar product in the US. If not, Chemistdirect.com are an Australian online pharmacy I use. They seem to be the cheapest (they have IBS support 90 caps for $49.95 Aust and it is $69.95 at my local chemist). They post overseas and say international orders are sent via Airmail with DHL Global Mail. Please allow 2-3 weeks for international Airmail delivery. Here is the link to the product on their site: http://chemistdirect.resultspage.com.au/search?w=IBS+support&view=list&search_in_description=1
I'll keep you posted on my experiment. The last 2 days I have gone up to 2 capsules to see if it affects the amount of BM's.
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IBS D
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You only need to take 1/8 teaspoon of the Life Start 2 powder to get 250 million CFUs. The amount of goat's milk in 1/8 teaspoon will be very small. Good luck
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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VSL#3
#327125 - 03/24/08 04:48 PM
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is the only probiotic proven in tests to help IBS. Don't know if you can order it though where you are.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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See this message and this research library entry.
In fact the research shows better overall results with Align than VSL#3 for IBS.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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VSL 3 is $120 for 30 sachets here and from Syl's research it looks as if it is better for IBS C - I'm going to see if I can get Align first but I don't know if it is available here or how much it costs. OMX sent an imprecise reply "We are uncertain as to the exact amount of Bifidobacterium infantis in OMX but believe it is about 2%". At the moment I will have to put my probiotics experiment on hold. I have had the flu over easter which has turned into sinusitis and am reluctantly on antibiotics. Then in 2 weeks I have to have 4 wisdom teeth out so will have to go on different antiobiotics for that. After all that, I'll really need some good bacteria.
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IBS D
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How did you get the impression that VSL is better for C? I always thought it benefited the D folks more. I feel the same about Align.  Is anyone with C being helped by either of these?
Claudie, why are you thinking of switching probiotics if IBS support is helping you so much?
Oooh, good luck with all the teeth work. I think being on a probiotic would help you deal with the antibiotics. You can take both at the same time, I'm pretty positive.
I don't know which probiotic is best now. Does it sound like the company that makes IBS Support is now saying they don't think it would be good to ship this? I just don't want to waste money....I just want to feel better.
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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But
#327202 - 03/26/08 07:49 AM
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Jordy
Reged: 08/12/06
Posts: 2095
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So many people have reported being helped by other brands. 
Are you saying that these two probiotics are the only ones worth trying? That others maybe just give a placebo effect? Like the Udo's choice that one poster find so helpful?
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IBS-C with pain and bloat
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