Table 3.

Comparison of the IBS-SSS scores, stool parameters, and SF-36 scores at the baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of probiotic prescription

	Baseline (mean ± SD)	End of week 4 (mean ± SD)	p value	End of week 8 (mean ± SD)	p value
Symptoms severity
Total score	206.00 ± 70.60	176.20 ± 65.30	0.220	208.00 ± 77.80	0.920
Abdominal pain	32.10 ± 21.50	19.40 ± 24.90	0.018	30.60 ± 32.30	0.894
Number of days having pain	31.60 ± 30.80	10.00 ± 13.70	0.003	23.1 ± 33.4	0.472
Abdominal distension/tightness	36.30 ± 30.20	40.00 ± 33.70	0.260	36.90 ± 23.80	0.800
Satisfaction of bowel habits	50.50 ± 29.30	52.50 ± 26.20	0.870	59.70 ± 23.60	0.230
Affect or interfere with life	55.30 ± 25.00	54.40 ± 21.00	0.920	57.80 ± 27.30	0.800
Bowel habits
Maximal number of bowel movements per day	3.47 ± 1.31	2.75 ± 1.18	0.026	2.44 ± 0.63	0.001
Passage of mucous	57.90%	31.20%	0.055	18.80%	0.007
Hurry/rush to the toilet	73.70%	37.50%	0.015	37.50%	0.019
SF-36
Physical functioning	71.93 ± 24.88	78.64 ± 20.63	0.361	80.73 ± 27.67	0.245
Role-physical	69.74 ± 36.87	67.19 ± 44.46	0.860	71.87 ± 40.70	0.720
Bodily pain	42.11 ± 22.70	25.69 ± 16.56	0.003	30.55 ± 17.45	0.068
General health	44.13 ± 13.28	51.44 ± 22.59	0.220	40.38 ± 14.18	0.360
Vitality	65.35 ± 12.80	66.67 ± 15.21	0.830	63.54 ± 22.33	0.700
Social functioning	52.63 ± 18.47	60.71 ± 15.21	0.140	59.82 ± 9.36	0.200
Role-emotional	68.42 ± 34.20	68.75 ± 35.42	0.890	66.67 ± 43.88	0.780
Mental health	40.67 ± 22.95	42.61 ± 13.97	0.840	39.77 ± 20.96	0.870

IBS-SSS irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity score, SF-36 36-item short form health survey