. 2015 Mar 14;21(10):3072–3084. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i10.3072

Table 3.

Characteristics of studies included in the systematic review

Trial	Type of IBS	Criteria	Age (yr)		Sex (Male/Female)		Probiotic	Probiotic dosage	Duration of treatment	Follow-up	Outcome
Trial	Type of IBS	Criteria	Probiotic	Placebo	Probiotic	Placebo	Probiotic	Probiotic dosage	Duration of treatment	Follow-up	Outcome
Agrawal et al[51]	C-IBS	Rome III	39.6		0/19	0/19	Bifidobacteriumlactis DN-173010	1.25 × 10¹⁰ CFU	4 wk	1 wk	↓ Abdominal distension and bloating
Hun[48]	D-IBS	Rome II	48.36		9/41		Bacillusc oagulans GBI-306086	8× 10⁸ CFU	8 wk	-	↓ Bloating and abdominal pain
Dolin[67]	D-IBS	Rome III	52.3	44	7/19	6/23	B. coagulans GBI-306086	2 × 10⁹ CFU	8wk	2 wk	↓ Number of daily bowel movements
Guandalini et al[47]	Alltypes	Rome II	4-18		31/28		VSL#3	4.5 × 10¹¹ bacteria	6 wk	6 wk after 2-wk wash-out	↓ Percentage of symptoms, severity and frequency of abdominal pain and bloating
Guandalini et al[47]	Alltypes	Rome II	4-18		31/28		VSL#3	4.5 × 10¹¹ bacteria	6 wk	6 wk after 2-wk wash-out	↑ QoL
Ligaarden et al[53]	All types	Rome II	46.5 (18-75)		5/11		Lactobacillusplantarum MF1298	1 × 10¹⁰ CFU	3 wk	-	Daily symptom scores not different between probiotic and placebo groups
Francavilla et al[50]	ND	Rome II	6.5	6.3	43/24	35/23	L. rhamnosus GG	3 × 10⁹ CFU	12wk	8 wk	↓ Frequency and severity of pain, and improved intestinal permeability
Hong et al[49]	All types	Rome III	33	33	12/25	10/26	Lactobacillus sp. HY7801	4 × 10⁹ CFU	8 wk	-	↑ Intestinal barrier function in females
							B. longum HY804				↓ Pain and flatulence defection
							L. brevis HY7401
Choi et al[54]	D-IBS, A-IBS	Rome II	40.2	40.6	18/17	19/20	Saccharomycesboulardii	2 × 10¹¹ CFU	4 wk	-	↑ QoL
Michail et al[52]	D-IBS	Rome III	21.8±17		5/10	3/6	VSL#3	9 × 10¹¹ bacteria	8 wk	-	↑ QoL
											No change in gut microbiota
											↑ Specific GSRS-IBS scores

A-IBS: Alternating irritable bowel syndrome; CFU: Colony Forming Unit; C-IBS: Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome; D-IBS: Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome; GSRS: Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; ND: Not determined; VSL#3: A probiotic combination of L. casei, L.plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, B. longum, B. breve, B. infantis, and S. thermophiles; QoL: Quality of life.