Recent developments in the use of pre-and probiotics for irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder (FBD) with a high prevalence that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Given the lack of a biomarker for IBS, pharmacological treatment approaches have remained symptom-oriented and often do not provide sufficient relief. The use of prebiotics, such as oligosaccharides, lactulose and probiotic bacterial strains, has been advocated as beneficial in relieving symptoms of IBS. This review focuses on recent developments in the use of prebiotics and probiotics for the treatment of IBS. Well-designed clinical trials have been conducted that support the use of probiotic bacterial strains, mainly Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus, to reduce abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence in patients with IBS. Both prebiotics and probiotics have shown none or only mild adverse effects and should be recommended as an adjuvant therapy for patients with IBS to improve their quality of life.