Irritable bowel syndrome is more or less a permanent condition that involves stomach discomfort or abdominal pain followed by loose motions or constipation. Around Sixty million humans in the world suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. It is gender biased, as the majority of females suffering from IBS are greater than the men. It may not be a great threat to human life and may not necessarily lead to serious ailments, but it is sadly incurable. Health management is the only way to ease IBS sufferers.
During a recent experiment at the American College of Gastroenterology, the useful functions of probiotics were highlighted, mainly in eliminating IBS distress. It involved around 160 women who had irritable bowel syndrome, 85 women were given B. infantis 35624- a probiotic supplement continuously for four weeks in opposition to a placebo.
The probiotic was effective enough to regularize bowel movements for those having severe constipation and also for people suffering from loose motions. Probiotic products cannot claim to be the ultimate source of treatment, but nevertheless supplements carry market labels that mention usage of ‘good micro-organisms’ that help to balance the bacterial organisms in the gut region, thus making one feel relatively better. Probiotics are facing competition from many drugs like Lotronex, which are medically approved to treat IBS patients. B. Infantis 35624 may be commercially marketed by multinationals like Procter and Gamble in association with APC Company.
Several new tests are being conducted on the usefulness of probiotics for IBS. According to reports, probiotics have been able to improve bloated ness and eliminate severe cramps. At the University of New Mexico eight to ten clinical tests were conducted recently for determining the efficiency and safety standards of probiotics in relation to IBS. The results were varied and not similar to each other. This evoked the need for larger trails for ‘experiment-probiotics’.
The regular use of probiotics may eventually help in irritable bowel syndrome. But will these surrogate therapies hold ground, where many conventional medications have failed to cure? Whether Probiotics can actually relieve one from abdominal discomfort and whether they are worth the time and money spent on it, is yet to be analyzed in a broader aspect.
Probiotics are basically living bacterial organisms that give us health boosts apart from basic nourishments. Researchers are yet to unravel many health advantages of probiotics. It is a known fact that probiotics play a key role in reducing the PH level in the body and also help to produce large bouts of acids. From easing stomach disorders to prevention of lever damage, it is involved in everything.
Some of the bacteria, which are usually found in probiotics, are natural residents in our digestive tracks. Their major function in eliminating IBS is that of a fighter, probiotics help our immune system to ward off harmful bacteria and give protection against infections. Excess use of anti-biotics, low-nutrition diet and major surgeries disrupt the normal functioning of the intestines, probiotics helps in alleviating such intestinal turmoil.
