+ Probiotic efficacy

A probiotic product not only has to reach the gut, it also has to do something beneficial once it arrives

There is a rationale for the use of probiotics in reducing IBS symptoms but rigorous clinical testing has been lacking

The efficacy of Symprove has been confirmed in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study by King’s College Hospital

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Probiotics are classed as a food, so trials don’t need to

be as rigorous as drugs

This was one of the first studies to

address the efficacy of a probiotic using

standards equivalent to a drug trial

186 IBS sufferers, mostly moderate to

severe, received a daily dose of

Symprove or an identical placebo

liquid for 3 months

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Study Protocol

+Symprove had an effect on:

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Overall symptom severity - Achieved benefit in 60% of participants. Just over a quarter had minimal or no symptoms at all at week 12

Bloating - Although some improvement was observed, it did not reach statistical significance. As the study was not powered to demonstrate bloating, no firm conclusion may be made.

Bowel habit - Patients report an objectively measurable improvement in their satisfaction with their bowel habit – both constipation and diarrhoea – which is unusual in IBS treatments

Pain - Importantly, there was a significant improvement in pain in the Symprove group; considered the most common and most dominating IBS symptom

Study Results

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The severity of the symptoms of IBS is normally plotted on a scale up to 500. Before taking part, the average scores for the

participants was about 300

At the end of the study, those taking the placebo went down to 270. However, the average score for those taking the active

drink dropped far more, to 240

When you consider that control subjects, who do not have IBS, when tested score about 75, it shows you how significant a

reduction this was

Symptom severity was

measured using IBS-symptoms severity score:

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Study Results

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Study Results

The significant change in pain score is important as pain is regarded as the key measure for patient health

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Study Results

Patients report an objectively measurable improvement in their satisfaction with their

bowel habit (constipation and diarrhoea)

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Study Results

Significant improvement was

achieved in 4 weeks Improvement

continued through the full 12 weeks

Results show that this multi-strain probiotic is safe, well-tolerated and efficacious in improving

overall symptom severity in patients with IBS

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Conclusion

1.  Symprove was demonstrated to IMPROVE the symptoms of patients with IBS using a validated symptom severity score

2.  Symprove was shown to be safe

3.  Symprove was shown to be well tolerated