Lactobacillus Acidophilus & IBS

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in the U.S. IBS is a result of the improper contraction of the muscles in the large intestine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, between 10 and 20 percent of the people in the United States have IBS. Anecdotal evidence suggests that probiotic bacteria, such as lactobacillus acidophilus, can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of IBS, though there have only been limited clinical tests.

Symptoms

• According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain or cramping, gas, bloating, mucus in the stool and diarrhea or constipation. Some people have diarrhea-predominant IBS, while others have constipation-predominant IBS.

Probiotics

• Lactobacillus acidophilus is known as a probiotic or "friendly" bacteria. It is naturally found in the human small intestine and vagina. While several human trials show the benefits of L. acidophilus for treating bacterial vaginosis, only a small amount of research has investigated its role in relieving the symptoms of IBS.

Research

• According to the National Institutes of Health, human studies have reported mixed results on the efficacy of L. acidophilus for the treatment of IBS. A small study of diarrhea in children showed no improvement with L. acidophilus.

Intestinal Flora

• According to the website Life Extension, researchers at Princeton found a correlation between recent infection in the intestine and IBS. They theorized that a lack of digestive flora, such as can occur with antibiotic treatment, could be responsible for the sudden onset of symptoms. In cases such as these, treatment with L. acidophilus would restore the healthy intestinal flora, and could relieve symptoms.

Warning

• According to the Mayo Clinic, people who have a weakened immune system or intestinal damage should avoid L. acidophilus. An overgrowth of bacteria, including those deemed probiotic, can be dangerous for these people.