Table 1.
Baseline characteristics and symptom scores (mean ± SD)
| Test group (n = 58) | Control group (n = 59) | P value | |
| Age (yr) | 37.43 ± 10.27 | 34.24 ± 8.67 | 0.720 |
| Male:female n (%) | 17 (29.3):41 (70.7) | 18 (30.5):41 (69.5) | 0.887 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 21.96 ± 3.01 | 21.28 ± 2.50 | 0.184 |
| Subtype of IBS n (%) | 0.919 | ||
| Constipation | 19 (32.8) | 22 (37.3) | |
| Diarrhea | 19 (32.8) | 16 (27.1) | |
| Mixed | 5 (8.6) | 5 (8.5) | |
| Unsubtyped | 15 (25.9) | 16 (27.1) | |
| Abdominal symptoms | |||
| Abdominal pain or discomfort (VAS) | 34.05 ± 18.55 | 33.05 ± 19.94 | 0.779 |
| Frequency of abdominal pain or discomfort/d | 1.73 ± 2.03 | 1.21 ± 1.17 | 0.089 |
| Abdominal distension or bloating (VAS) | 44.40 ± 21.99 | 39.83 ± 20.82 | 0.281 |
| Flatulence/d | 5.19 ± 4.01 | 4.98 ± 2.88 | 0.749 |
| Bowel habit | |||
| Defecation frequency/wk | 6.38 ± 5.98 | 5.69 ± 3.87 | 0.458 |
| Defecation duration (min) | 8.68 ± 6.35 | 8.85 ± 5.59 | 0.881 |
| Urgency n (%) | 23 (39.7) | 22 (37.3) | 0.792 |
| Straining n (%) | 39 (67.2) | 37 (62.7) | 0.608 |
| Feeling of incomplete defecation n (%) | 39 (67.2) | 44 (74.6) | 0.382 |
| Stool consistency (BSS) | 3.95 ± 1.64 | 3.54 ± 1.59 | 0.159 |
| Bowel habit satisfaction (VAS) | 32.33 ± 17.53 | 31.95 ± 18.22 | 0.909 |
| Discomfort related to daily life (VAS) | 36.21 ± 22.54 | 30.93 ± 17.58 | 0.160 |
BMI: Body mass index; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; VAS: Visual analog scale; BSS: Bristol stool scale.