PERSONALIZED APPROACH IN THE TREATMENT OF IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF PHARMABIOTICS

Introduction. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastroenterological disease characterized by chronic functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation. Traditional treatment methods, such as dietary modification, drug regulation of intestinal peristalsis, or antidepressants, are not always effective. Therefore, there is growing interest in alleviating IBS symptoms by influencing the gut microbiome with probiotics – live microorganisms that help restore the balance of the gut microbiota. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of pharmabiotics in alleviating IBS symptoms and improving patients' quality of life by restoring the balance of the gut microbiota.Materials and methods. The study material was stool samples from patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Microbiological analysis was performed using quantitative methods of culture on nutrient media, with the subsequent identification of isolated microorganisms. The MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry method was used to confirm and clarify the results. Individual selection of pharmaceutical preparations was based on the determination of antagonism between microorganisms isolated from the biomaterial and pharmabiotics. Results and discussion. The study showed that the most common subtype of IBS is the diarrhea-predominant type (IBS-D), diagnosed in 61% of patients. The disease was more common in women, and the average age of patients varied depending on the subtype of IBS, with a tendency towards an older age group in mixed-type IBS (IBS-M). Significant differences in the dominance of microorganisms in the gut microbiota were also found depending on the subtype of IBS.Conclusions. The results of the study emphasize the importance of an individual approach to the correction of the gut microbiota. For IBS-C, an effective pharmabiotic composition Lactobacillus bulgaricus S6 and L. rhamnosus S25; for IBS-D – L. bulgaricus A6 and L. bulgaricus S6; and for IBS-M – L. bulgaricus A22 and L. rhamnosus S25. The use of pharmabiotics can significantly reduce IBS symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.