Probiotic Yeast ibSium May Ease Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: SupplySide West Report

Photo © iStockphoto.com/Artem_Furman

Less than a year after arriving on the U.S. market (in February), yeast ingredient ibSium now has a second clinical study backing its potential benefits for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The ingredient, a proprietary strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is supplied by Lesaffre Human Care (Marcq-en-Baroeul, France).

According to Lesaffre, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 379 healthy volunteers presenting with IBS symptoms. For 12 weeks, participants consumed either 500 mg of ibSium or a placebo twice a day and completed a daily evaluation form regarding their IBS symptoms.

Researchers found that the participants who consumed ibSium experienced a significant relief of their abdominal pain and discomfort compared with the placebo group. The ibSium group also reported feeling less bloated than the placebo group. Lesaffre shared the results in a press release and the full study has been accepted for publication in the United European Gastroenterology Journal.

“With over 800 million people affected by IBS worldwide, many of them unsatisfied with their current treatment, ibSium is now available as a substantiated natural alternative to drugs used in intestinal pain and discomfort management,” said Peter Jüsten, managing director, Lesaffre. He added that between this study and the first clinical study of ibSium published in Digestive and Liver Disease earlier this year, a total of 600 volunteers have now participated in clinical studies of ibSium.

At SupplySide West 2015, Jüsten explained that ibSium is unlike typical probiotics in that the yeast adheres to pathogenic bacteria in the gut and carries them away, rather than actively colonizing itself. He said it might be possible to combine ibSium with a traditional probiotic, although Lesaffre has not explored the pairing yet.

ibSium, which was previously called Lynside Pro GI+ but has since been rebranded, is available on the U.S. market through the Life Extension brand. It was also recently granted a Health Canada claim relating to its effects on IBS symptoms.

Read more:

Lesaffre Probiotic Wins Irritable Bowel Syndrome Health Claim in Canada

Are Probiotics Moving Beyond Gut Health?

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com