IBS (also known as ‘Spastic Colon’) is a functional disorder of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract characterised by a pattern of symptoms for which no biochemical or structural cause can be found. The diagnosis is one of exclusion.

IBS is the most common of the functional intestinal disorders and estimates range for it affecting between 10% and 20% of the adult population. It is three times more common in women.

Over half of affected individuals remain symptomatic at 5 years.

While IBS is not life-threatening those with significant symptoms find that the condition markedly affects their general well-being. They can find it difficult to hold down jobs, travel or even leave the house.

Symptoms Top

These include abdominal discomfort, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. Clinical classifications have been developed to help with diagnosis - the most widely known being the Rome Criteria.

Other non-intestinal symptoms can also be associated including:

  • nausea

  • feelings of fullness after small amounts of food

  • lethargy/fatigue

  • feelings of urinary urgency and incomplete bladder emptying

Definition of IBS Top

Clinical attempts have been made to define criteria which diagnose IBS. The most recent of these are the Rome II criteria. This defines IBS as:

12 weeks or more (within the last 12 months) of symptoms of:

Abdominal pain/discomfort which is associated with at least one of the following characteristics:

  • relieved by defecation

  • change in stool frequency

  • change in stool consistency

At least two of the following for at least 25% of the time:

  • altered stool frequency (greater than 3 bowel movements per day or less than 3 bowel movements per week)

  • altered stool consistency

  • altered stool passage (straining, urgency or feeling of incomplete evacuation of stool)

  • bloating / feelings of abdominal distention

  • passage of mucous

Trigger Factors Top

Many trigger factors have been reported by IBS sufferers - some of the more common ones being:

  • Significant life event e.g. bereavement, divorce, job change
  • Gastrointestinal infection
  • Diet/Food related (trigger food varies from individual to individual)
  • Abdominal surgery

Susceptibility does not appear to relate to an individual’s psychological makeup but this can affect how an individual responds and the severity of the symptoms

Probiotics and IBS Top

Although the cause of IBS is not known one promising theory is that it is due to disturbance of the natural, healthy intestinal bacteria - either by overgrowth by pathogenic bacteria or by eradication of the normal bacteria by antibiotics and replacement by opportunistic colonisers. This can result in food being abnormally digested producing toxins that can affect the intestinal epithelium producing a condition called ‘Gut Dysbiosis’.

A study of IBS sufferers found unusual species (enterobacteria and pseudomonas) and lowered levels of Bifidobacterium in 6 out of 20 subjects but not in normal control subjects1. Another study2 has also shown reduced levels of Bifidobacterium in subjects with IBS.

Probiotics, such as Bio-KultTM, are designed to replenish the natural intestinal bacteria and competitively exclude pathogenic & harmful bacteria.

Fermentation, especially production of gas in the bowel, has been suggested as one of the factors involved in IBS. A recent trial3 suggested that the probiotic organism Lactobacillus plantarum could cause a reduction in intestinal gas. 

  • Both Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium are significant components of Bio-KultTM.

References

1The faecal microbial population in the irritable bowel syndrome Balsari A, Ceccarelli A, Dubini F et al.. Microbiologica 1982; 5(3): 189-194

2 Intestinal dysbacteriosis in patients with functional and inflammatory diseases of the large intestine. Sarkisian BG, Agamalian SS, Eloion DI et al. Klinicheabaia Meditaino 1989; 67(2): 123-125

3 Alteration of Intestinal Microflora Is Associated With Reduction in Abdominal Bloating and Pain in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome S. Nobaek, M.-L. Johansson, G. Molin, S. Ahrné, and B. Jeppsson. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95:1231–1238

Dosage Guidelines for Bio-Kult for Digestive Disorders Top

 

Initial Dose

Adults

Children Age 3 - 12

Dose: Number of Capsules per Day

Week 1

2

2

Week 2

4

4

Week 3

6

6

Week 4 – 11

8

6

Week 12 – 15

8

2

Thereafter Maintenance Dose

4

2
  • Divide daily dose into two. Half before breakfast, half before evening meal.
  • When daily dose is an odd number, take the extra capsule with the morning dose.
  • Do not take with hot food, hot drink or chlorinated water..
  • For children between 3 and under 12 take half the adult dose.
  • Not for children under 3 years without professional advice.

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