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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum
Published in: Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 12/2008

01-12-2008 | Original Contribution

Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials

Authors: Shekoufeh Nikfar, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Roja Rahimi, Pharm.D., Fatemeh Rahimi, Pharm.D., Saeed Derakhshani, M.D., Mohammad Abdollahi, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Published in: Diseases of the Colon & Rectum | Issue 12/2008

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to evaluate whether probiotics improve symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies that investigated the efficacy of probiotics in the management of irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical improvement was the key outcome of interest. Data were searched within the time period of 1966 through September 2007.

Results

Eight randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the analysis. Pooling of eight trials for the outcome of clinical improvement yielded a significant relative risk of 1.22 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.07–1.4; P = 0.0042).

Conclusions

Probiotics may improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and can be used as supplement to standard therapy.
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Metadata
Title
Efficacy of Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials
Authors
Shekoufeh Nikfar, Pharm.D., M.P.H.
Roja Rahimi, Pharm.D.
Fatemeh Rahimi, Pharm.D.
Saeed Derakhshani, M.D.
Mohammad Abdollahi, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Publication date
01-12-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum / Issue 12/2008
Print ISSN: 0012-3706
Electronic ISSN: 1530-0358
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-008-9335-z

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