Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of patients
| Placebo group (n = 42) | Probiotics group (n = 39) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male, n (%) | 24 (57.1) | 19 (48.7) | 0.448 |
| Mean age ± SD (years) | 58.8 ± 13.3 | 59.9 ± 11.1 | 0.712 |
| IBS subtype, n (%) | 0.548 | ||
| IBS-C | 6 (14.3) | 9 (23.1) | |
| IBS-D | 23 (54.8) | 16 (41.0) | |
| IBS-M | 9 (21.4) | 8 (20.5) | |
| IBS-U | 4 (9.5) | 6 (15.4) | |
| Stool form (BSFS) | 4.5 | 4.6 | 0.682 |
| Stool frequency/week | 8.8 | 7.9 | 0.489 |
| Total symptom score | 21.2 ± 12.3 | 22.1 ± 13.3 | 0.773 |
| Pain/discomfort score | 5.4 ± 3.5 | 4.9 ± 3.9 | 0.552 |
| Constipation score | 4.7 ± 4.9 | 4.8 ± 4.5 | 0.877 |
| Diarrhea score | 2.9 ± 4.0 | 5.5 ± 5.3 | 0.013 |
| Bloat/gas score | 8.3 ± 4.7 | 6.8 ± 4.8 | 0.155 |
BSFS, Bristol Stool Form Scale; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C, IBS with constipation; IBS-D, IBS with diarrhea; IBS-M, mixed IBS; IBS-U, un-subtyped IBS; SD, standard deviation.