Efficacy of combined high-dose probiotic complex in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, significantly reducing patients’ quality of life. The absence of etiological treatment options for IBS stimulates the search for new therapeutic strategies, including the most effective combinations of modern probiotic microorganisms. Such combinations include a high‑dose complex containing Saccharomyces, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium species, as well as lactic acid streptococci, such as Probeez® Intense. Objective — to evaluate the effectiveness of Probeez® Intense complex in patients with diarrhea‑predominant irritable bowel syndrome and overlap syndrome (a combination of IBS and functional dyspepsia). Materials and methods. A total of 38 patients were enrolled in this prospective study and randomly divided into two groups: the control group (FODMAP diet and symptomatic treatment) and the main group (the same therapy plus Probeez® Intense, 1 capsule daily for 28 days). Symptom dynamics were assessed using individual questionnaires on days 0, 14, and 28. Results. The study results convincingly demonstrated the high clinical efficacy of the Probeez® Intense probiotic complex in patients with diarrhea‑predominant IBS. Already after 2 weeks of therapy, the main group showed a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of loose stools, abdominal pain and bloating, along with improvement in overall well‑being, indicating a rapid onset of action of the complex. Furthermore, the main group demonstrated a sustained positive dynamic across all studied parameters, which was significantly more pronounced than in the control group. A markedly greater reduction in the need for loperamide and antispasmodics was also observed in the main group. Conclusions. Thus, Probeez® Intense can be effectively used in the treatment and personalized maintenance therapy of patients with the diarrhea‑predominant form of IBS.