Probiotics for the management of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis.

Abstract in brief

• This systematic review and meta-analysis found that probiotics significantly improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including global symptoms, abdominal pain, and quality of life, with the most notable effects seen in treatments shorter than 4 weeks and with Bacillus probiotics.
• The study analyzed 72 randomized controlled trials and used a three-level meta-analysis to pool data, revealing moderate effect sizes and emphasizing the importance of treatment duration and probiotic type in maximizing benefits.
• However, the effects were primarily short-term, suggesting probiotics may provide temporary relief for IBS symptoms, with shorter treatment durations and specific probiotic strains like Bacillus showing more promise.