Clinical Trial: A Multistrain Probiotic Preparation Significantly Reduces Intestinal Discomfort in a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

(Williams et al. 2008)

Probiotic supplementation was found to decrease the number of days with intestinal discomfort, while improving satisfaction with bowel habits and overall quality of life.This 8-week long, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 52 participants. Participants were randomized to either the placebo capsule group or the probiotic capsule group (25 billion CFU from Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60 and CUL 21, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34, and Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20). Participants scored their intestinal discomfort (including bloating, satisfaction with bowel habits, and quality of life) at baseline and every 2 weeks during supplementation. In the probiotic group, satisfaction with bowel habits was significantly improved in just 6 weeks, and quality of life scores were improved after 8 weeks of supplementation.

• 22% decrease in days with intestinal discomfort
• 32% improvement in satisfaction with bowel habits