Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics of the Randomized Patients
| Characteristics | Placebo (n=34) | Synbiotic (n=33) |
|---|---|---|
| Age, yr* | 64.0 (61.0–66.0) | 63.0 (62.0–67.0) |
| Female sex | 25 (73.5) | 21 (66.6) |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.1 (22.7–25.7) | 24.2 (22.8–26.5) |
| Never smoker | 27 (79.4) | 28 (84.8) |
| Never drinker | 16 (48.4) | 17 (51.5) |
| IBS subtype | ||
| IBS-C | 3 (8.8) | 4 (12.1) |
| IBS-D | 6 (17.7) | 3 (9.1) |
| IBS-M | 2 (6.9) | 3 (9.1) |
| IBS-U | 23 (67.6) | 23 (69.7) |
| VAS | ||
| Abdominal pain | 3.0 (3.0–3.0) | 3.0 (3.0–4.0) |
| Gas | 4.0 (3.0–6.0) | 4.0 (2.0–6.0) |
| Bloating | 4.0 (3.0–5.8) | 4.0 (2.0–6.0) |
| Psychological well-being | 3.0 (1.0–3.0) | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) |
| Stool frequency,/day | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) | 1.0 (1.0–2.0) |
| Stool form (BSC) | 5.0 (3.0–5.8) | 5.0 (3.0–6.0) |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range) or number (%).
BMI, body mass index; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C, constipation-dominant IBS; IBS-D, IBS with predominant diarrhea; IBS-M, IBS with mixed bowel habits; IBS-U, IBS unclassified; VAS, visual analog scale; BSC, Bristol stool chart.
*Age was not distributed normally.