Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder with a prevalence ranging from 10 to 15 percent. It is characterized by recurrent chronic abdominal pain or discomfort in the absence of detectable organic causes with two or more of the following conditions: onset associated with a change in frequency of stool, onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool, or improvement with defecation.~IBS results from an interaction among several factors, including genetic predisposition, gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, immune activation with minimal inflammation, alterations in intestinal microbiota, increased intestinal permeability, and food sensitivity.~IBS is associated with a high economic burden for the health care costs and work absenteeism.~The disease course is represented by unchanged symptoms in 30 to 50 percent or progression of symptoms in 2 to 18 percent. On the other hand, an improvement in symptoms was recorded in 12 to 38 percent of patients.~Of note, the management of patients with IBS is critical. Several therapeutic options have been proposed looking to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms (i.e., dietary modification, osmotic laxatives, lubiprostone, guanylate cyclase agonists, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 4 receptor agonists, antidiarrheal agents, bile acid sequestrants, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 3 receptor antagonists, antispasmodic agents, antidepressants, antibiotics, probiotics, behavior modification, anxiolytics, mast cell stabilizer, and fecal transplantation).~Since quantitative and qualitative disturbances of intestinal microbiota can occur in IBS, interesting data support the use of probiotics to modulate intestinal microbiota. The genus Bifidobacterium is one of the most representative member of the intestinal microbiota with large effects on overall gut physiology. Its metabolic activity results from the degradation of oligo-fructose, production of acetate, and promotion of butyrate production by means of cross-feeding. In particular, B. longum has beneficial effects on the immune system, and can be considered a promising candidate for prevention/treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.~The combination of specific bacterial strains of Lactobacillus with Bifidobacterium species plays an interesting role in reserving the intestinal dysbiosis. The synergic action results in survival on adverse gastrointestinal conditions, adhesion to intestinal mucosa, immunomodulatory activities, and restoration of gut environment.~The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a novel formulation of B. longum BB536 and L. rhamnosus HN001 with vitamin B6 on the gut microbiota and intestinal permeability in IBS subjects.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder with a prevalence ranging from 10 to 15 percent. IBS results from an interaction among several factors, including genetic predisposition, gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, immune activation with minimal inflammation, alterations in intestinal microbiota, increased intestinal permeability, and food sensitivity. Of note, the management of patients with IBS is critical. Since quantitative and qualitative disturbances of intestinal microbiota can occur in IBS, interesting data support the use of probiotics to modulate intestinal microbiota. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a novel formulation of B. longum BB536 and L. rhamnosus HN001 with vitamin B6 on the gut microbiota and intestinal permeability in IBS subjects.