A Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Bifidobacterium Longum NCC3001 on Intestinal and Psychological Symptoms in Subjects With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Who can take part

• Male or female, age between 18 and 70 years inclusive
• Willing and able to sign written informed consent prior to study entry
• Able to comply with the study procedures, in the opinion of the investigator
• Subjects diagnosed with IBS. All subtypes based on Rome IV Criteria with active IBS symptoms as indicated by a score of ≥ 125 on the IBS-SSS
• Subjects with psychological symptoms in the absence of a psychiatric diagnosis, defined as a score of 5 to 13 in the depression domain and/or a score of 4 to 9 in the anxiety domain of the DASS-21 questionnaire

Who cannot take part

• Concurrent formal diagnosis by a psychiatric specialist, including any mood or anxiety disorder, according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th or 5th edition
• Concurrent organic gastrointestinal pathology other than benign polyps, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, lipomas, and melanosis coli
• Previous abdominal surgery except for hernia repair, appendectomy, caesarian section, tubal ligation, hysterectomy, and hemorrhoidectomy
• Subjects who are on daily treatment with therapeutic doses of drugs having central nervous system effects, including antidepressants and/ or anxiolytics. Low doses of (I) tricyclic antidepressants for abdominal pain/diarrhea related to IBS and (II) anxiolytics used as sleeping pills will be permitted if dose is stable > 3 months prior to the date of randomization
• Subjects who received antibiotics within the 4 weeks prior to the date of randomization
• Subjects currently participating or having participated in a therapeutic trial within 3 months prior to the date of randomization
• Medically diagnosed lactose intolerance and fructose intolerance without being on a stable lactose or fructose free diet (> 3 months prior to the date of randomization)
• Consumption of any probiotic supplements specified as containing Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, Streptococcus, Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces at least 2 weeks prior to the date of randomization
• Subjects on regular use of drugs to control IBS symptoms such as bile acid binders (cholestyramine, colestipol or colesevelam, rifaximin, alosetron, lubiprostone, eluxadoline and linaclotide)
• Recently initiated exclusion diets. Subjects on stable exclusion diets (> 3 months prior to the date of randomization) will not be excluded. This includes subjects with the following diets: gluten-free, lactose-free, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, and low-carbohydrate
• Low-FODMAP diet. Subjects on the induction phase of the FODMAP exclusion will not be enrolled. Subjects on the maintenance phase of the diet for more than 3 months prior to the date of randomization with stable diet can be considered for enrollment
• History of attempted suicide in the past 5 years
• History of substance abuse in the past 2 years, including opiates, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and cannabinoids (except if medically indicated)
• Subjects with dementia or other cognitive impairment
• Known or suspected allergies to the study products
• Subjects with increased risk of probiotic sepsis as the following conditions: Immune compromise, including debilitating state or malignancy, central venous catheter, impaired intestinal epithelial barrier (acute diarrheal illness, intestinal inflammation, etc.), cardiac valvular disease
• Medically diagnosed celiac disease
• Concurrent systemic disease and/ or laboratory abnormalities considered by the investigator to be clinically relevant or that could interfere with data collection or interpretation
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women