Probiotic supplements improve IBS symptoms through manipulation of the gut microbiota. Metabolites derived from microbiota metabolism and host-microbiota co-metabolism have an impact on host intracellular signalling pathways. Although probiotic supplements improve IBS symptoms, the precise composition of probiotics that can achieve optimal response remains unclear. SMT04 (M3XTRA, GenieBiome Limited, Hong Kong, China) is a novel product that is commercially available as a dietary supplement in Singapore. It consists of a patented probiotics blend of 5 probiotics (3 Bifidobacteria and 2 Streptococci with 12.5 billion CFU in 1 sachet). Probiotics preparation that included varying composition of Bifidobacteria and Streptococci strains had previously demonstrated efficacy in achieving symptom improvement in IBS patients. Streptococcus thermophilus, a component of the blended probiotics, significantly improved intestinal functional barrier in healthy subjects. Thus there is potential for SMT04, a dietary supplement, to be a treatment option for IBS patients. This is a multi-centered trial, all data and samples from the study sites will be pooled together for analysis.
Male or female, aged from 21 years to 70 years old
Improvement of symptoms after defecation
Start of symptoms in association with a change in stool frequency
Start of symptoms in association with a change in stool consistency Subtype of IBS-D which requires more than 25% of the participant's stools to be loose and less than 25% hard and lumpy; subtype of IBS-M which the participant's stools must be both hard and lumpy, as well as loose in consistency at least 25% of the time. Functional diarrhoea: The experience of loose or watery stools without pain occurring in at least 75% of bowel movements for at least three months over the last six months.
Known inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance or other malabsorption syndromes, celiac disease, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, immunodeficiency, autoimmune diseases, severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, other explainable causes of abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation
Known operations involving small intestines and large intestines; or history of appendectomy, hysterectomy, and cholecystectomy in last 6 months.
Known severe mental illnesses; unstable type or dose of psychiatric drugs within the last 3 months that will affect their judgement of study participation.
Evidence of active infection at the time of inclusion
Changi General Hospital
Lead sponsor
GenieBiome Limited
Collaborator
National University Hospital, Singapore
Collaborator