FIG 3.

Effect on the time-dependent changes of abdominal dysfunction during the experimental period. Total scores of abdominal dysfunction (A), total GSRS scores (B), changed score of “abdominal discomfort and pain” from the preintervention period in subjects without symptoms during the preintervention period (the placebo group, n = 9; the L. casei strain Shirota [LcS] group, n = 14) (C), and changed score of “abdominal discomfort and pain” from the preintervention period in subjects with symptoms during the preintervention period (the placebo group, n = 15; the L. casei strain Shirota group, n = 8) (D). One subject in the L. casei strain Shirota group was excluded from the analysis because no questionnaires were collected. Values indicate the means ± SE. Data were analyzed by Dunnett's multiple-comparison test within a group and two-way ANOVA between the groups. #, P < 0.05; ##, P < 0.01 between both groups; *, P < 0.05 versus preintervention period.