Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 in irritable bowel syndrome: An individual subject meta-analysis.

World journal of gastroenterology. 2017;23(2):336-344

Plain language summary

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disorder with various symptoms, affecting a significant number of the population. Gut bacteria are known to play a role in triggering the syndrome and research is exploring the manipulation of the gut microbiome in treating and managing symptoms. One yeast strain of interest is Saccharomyces Cerevisiae CNCM-I 3856. This meta-analysis of 2 randomised controlled trial, including 579 patients diagnosed with IBS, aimed to confirm previous conclusions on the effectiveness of supplementation of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on typical IBS-C (constipation predominant IBS) symptoms. The pooled results showed a statistically significant improvement in abdominal pain, bloating and stool consistency when compared to placebo, after 2 months. It is important to note that positive effects were not reported after 1 month, but required 2 months of supplementation. When compiling nutrition protocols for IBS patients, Nutrition Practitioners need to take account of the length of intervention required to have the desired impact, as well as the choice of protocol itself.

Abstract

AIM: To confirm previous conclusions on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) CNCM I-3856 for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) management. METHODS An individual patient data meta-analysis was performed on two randomized clinical trials studying the effect of S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 supplementation on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in IBS subjects. A total of 579 IBS subjects were included. Outcomes were the daily Likert scale scores of abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating [area under the curve (AUC) and weekly means], responder status, and bowel movements (stool frequency and consistency). Statistical analyses were conducted in Intent to Treat (ITT) population, IBS-C subjects and IBS-C subjects with an abdominal pain/discomfort score higher than or equal to 2 at baseline ("IBS-C ≥ 2 subpopulation"). RESULTS S. cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 significantly improved abdominal pain/discomfort and bloating during the second month of supplementation [AUC (W5-W8)] with improvement up to the minimal clinically relevant threshold of 10%: a 12.3% reduction of abdominal pain/discomfort in the ITT population compared to the Placebo group (P = 0.0134) has been observed. In the IBS-C ≥ 2 subpopulation, there were a 13.1% reduction of abdominal pain/discomfort and a 14.9% reduction of bloating compared to the Placebo group (P = 0.0194 and P = 0.0145, respectively). GI symptoms significantly decreased during supplementation but no statistical differences were reported between groups at the end of the supplementation period. Responder status was defined as a subject who experienced a decrease of 1 arbitrary unit (a.u.) or 50% of the abdominal discomfort score from baseline for at least 2 wk out of the last 4 wk of the study. A significant difference between groups was reported in the ITT population, when considering the first definition: subjects in the Active group had 1.510 higher odds to be a responder (reduction of 1 a.u. of abdominal pain/discomfort) compared with subjects in the Placebo group (P = 0.0240). At the end of supplementation period, stool consistency in the Active group of the ITT population was significantly improved and classified as "normal" compared to Placebo (respectively 3.13 ± 1.197 a.u. vs 2.58 ± 1.020 a.u., P = 0.0003). Similar results were seen in the IBS-C ≥ 2 subpopulation (Active group: 3.14 ± 1.219 a.u. vs Placebo group: 2.59 ± 1.017 a.u., P = 0.0009). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis supports previous data linking S. cerevisiae I-3856 and improvement of GI symptoms, in IBS overall population and in the IBS-C and IBS-C ≥ 2 subpopulations.

Lifestyle medicine

Fundamental Clinical Imbalances : Digestive, absorptive and microbiological
Patient Centred Factors : Mediators/Irritable bowel syndrome
Environmental Inputs : Microorganisms
Personal Lifestyle Factors : Not applicable
Functional Laboratory Testing : Not applicable
Bioactive Substances : Yeasts ; Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Methodological quality

Allocation concealment : Not applicable
Publication Type : Journal Article ; Meta-Analysis

Metadata

Nutrition Evidence keywords : IBS ; IBS-C ; Bloating