Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional GIT disorder. Bacillus coagulans (BC) is a potent spore-forming probiotic that has been proposed as a potent supplement that can improve GIT dysbiosis and relieve IBS symptoms. We aim to assess the effect of BC on different IBS symptoms.
Methods: We searched seven databases for RCTs that compare the use of BC versus placebo in the management of IBS symptoms.
Results: Our search finally retrieved seven RCTs after extensive screening. Our analysis revealed that BC significantly improved the severity of IBS symptoms such as urgency {MD: -1.05, 95% CI: -1.33; -0.77}, bowel habit satisfaction {MD: -1.40, 95% CI: -1.68; -1.13}, straining {MD: -1. 22, 95% CI: -1.61; -0.82}, the passage of gas {MD: -1.25, 95% CI: -1.51; -0.99}, incomplete evacuation {MD: -1.06, 95% CI: -1.55; -0.57}, and the total score of symptom severity {MD: -10.13, 95% CI: -11.61; -8.66, (P < 0.00001)}. We also found a significant improvement in the physician’s global assessment score at 8 weeks {MD: 1.61, 95% CI: 0.61; 2.60, (P = 0.002)}; however, results were not significant at 4 weeks (P = 0.48). Moreover, our results indicate a significant decrease in the discomfort score after 4 and 8 weeks, the bloating score after 2, 4, 8, and 11 weeks and the vomiting score. Regarding abdominal pain, BC significantly lowered pain score after 2, 4, 8, and (11-13) weeks.
Conclusion: BC is a very effective probiotic in reducing the severity of IBS symptoms and abdominal pain with no serious adverse events. Future studies are needed to assess the use of BC as a long-term regimen and compare different subspecies of BC.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.