Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABLa-12 Benefit Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

by | Oct 8, 2020 | 2020, Digestive Health, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Probiotics

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS‐1 (L. acidophilusDDS-1) or Bifidobacterium lactis UABla‐12 (B.lactis UABLa-12), significantly improved symptom severity in participating subjects with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

digestive health - IBSIBS is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder worldwide 1. IBS is thought to be related to a number of potential alterations in the GI system, including abnormal bowel motility, altered intestinal permeability, or imbalance of gut microbiota 2,3. A recent meta-analysis suggests that probiotics may be helpful in controlling global symptoms of IBS 4, but further work is needed to identify optimal probiotic strains for IBS and specific symptoms associated with it. Administration of L. acidophilus DDS-1 in mice has been linked to improved modulation of fecal microbiota and downregulation of inflammatory cytokines 5. When combined with B. lactis UABLa-12, L. acidophilus DDS-1 appears to improve constipation 6, abdominal discomfort 7, and immune function 8. In a pilot study, a probiotic blend combining both strains also led to significant improvement in general IBS symptoms 9. In 2020, a study 10 published in Nutrients looked at the efficacy of L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLa–12 with respect to abdominal pain and symptom severity in patients with IBS.

A total of 331 adults (aged 18 to 70 years) with a clinical diagnosis of IBS were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial in which they were assigned to receive L. acidophilus DDS-1 (1 x 1010 CFU), B. lactis UABLa–12 (1 x 1010 CFU), or matching placebo daily for six weeks. At baseline, Week 3, and at the end of Week 6, patients completed the Abdominal Pain Severity-Numeric Rating Scale (APS-NRS) and IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS). Stool consistency was also assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS).

On Day 42, a significant reduction in APS-NRS was apparent for L. acidophilus DDS-1 (absolute change in score = -2.59 +/- 2.07) and B. lactis UABLa–12 (-1.56 +/- 1.83) (p = 0.001 for both), compared to placebo. The number of significant responders to treatment (defined by a reduction in APS-NRS greater than 30%) was also significantly greater in the L. acidophilus DDS-1 (52.3%, p < 0.001) and B. lactis UABLa–12 groups (28.2%, p = 0.031), relative to placebo. With regard to IBS symptomology, both L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLa–12 also showed significant reductions on IBS-SSS scores (-133.4 +/- 95.19, p < 0.001 and –104.5 +/- 96.08, p < 0.001, respectively), compared to placebo. Finally, on Day 42, both probiotic groups exhibited more normalized stool consistency, relative to placebo, with 83.8% of L. acidophilus DDS-1 participants and 75.5% of B. lactis UABLa–12 participants showing significant normalization of stool type (p = 0.002 and p = 0.022, respectively).

Based on evidence from the present study, regular ingestion of probiotic strains L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLa–12 appeared to effectively improve abdominal pain and severity of other IBS symptoms. Besides improving overall symptomology, L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLa–12 were associated with improvements in specific domains of the IBS-SSS, including abdominal distension, bowel habits, and quality of life. In addition, both probiotics resulted in a concomitant normalization of stool type in patients. It is suggested, therefore, that both probiotic strains be considered effective therapeutic agents for the alleviation of abdominal pain and IBS symptoms. It would be important for future studies to compare the efficacy of L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLa–12, independently, to that of a probiotic blend containing both strains. Limitations of the study include the lack of classification for IBS severity (e.g., mild vs. severe) and the absence of microbial profiling and biomarker analysis.

Source: Martoni CJ, Srivastava S, Leyer GJ. Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and bifidobacterium lactis UABLa-12 improve abdominal pain severity and symptomology in irritable bowel syndrome: randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2020; 12: 363. DOI: 10.3390/nu12020363.

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Posted October 8, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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