200 IBS-inflicted individuals were split into two groups in the randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study. After four weeks, 63% of those taking the probiotic yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I-3856) showed improvement compared to 47% in the placebo group.
The ingredient is part of nutrient specialist Lesaffre’s suite going under the commercial name Lynside Pro GI+. The French firm funded the study, published in Digestive and Liver Disease and conducted at the University of Lille in France.
Lesaffre said it is the first probiotic yeast to show IBS benefits, or even target the condition.
Those in the study group each consumed 500 mg of the probiotic.
Lead researcher and IBS specialist professor Pierre Desreumaux said the results were encouraging.
“The consumption of this probiotic yeast was well tolerated and the analgesic effect observed was not mitigated by any adverse side effects,” he said, adding, “even long term treatments could be contemplated considering the absence of side effects.”
The strain is registered with the French National Collection of Microorganism Cultures as CNCM I3856.
Source:
Digestive and Liver Disease
Volume 47, Issue 2, February 2015, Pages 119–124
‘A randomized clinical trial of Saccharomyces cerevisiae versus placebo in the irritable bowel syndrome’
Authors: Pierre Desreumaux et al