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Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials

Diseases of the Colon & Rectum volumeĀ 51,Ā pages 1775ā€“1780 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to evaluate whether probiotics improve symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies that investigated the efficacy of probiotics in the management of irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical improvement was the key outcome of interest. Data were searched within the time period of 1966 through September 2007.

Results

Eight randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the analysis. Pooling of eight trials for the outcome of clinical improvement yielded a significant relative risk of 1.22 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.07ā€“1.4; Pā€‰=ā€‰0.0042).

Conclusions

Probiotics may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and can be used as supplement to standard therapy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drug Selecting Committee, Food and Drug Organization, Food & Drug Laboratory Research Center, Ministry of Health & Medical Education, Tehran, Iran

    Shekoufeh Nikfar Pharm.D., M.P.H.

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Roja Rahimi Pharm.D.Ā &Ā Fatemeh Rahimi Pharm.D.

  3. Baharan Colorectal Surgical Center, Tehran, Iran

    Saeed Derakhshani M.D.

  4. Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6451, Iran

    Mohammad Abdollahi Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Shekoufeh Nikfar Pharm.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Roja Rahimi Pharm.D.
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  3. Fatemeh Rahimi Pharm.D.
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  4. Saeed Derakhshani M.D.
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  5. Mohammad Abdollahi Pharm.D., Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Abdollahi Pharm.D., Ph.D..

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Nikfar, S., Rahimi, R., Rahimi, F. et al. Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials. Dis Colon Rectum 51, 1775ā€“1780 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9335-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9335-z

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