MedTrace Logo

Manipulation of Visceral Hypersensitivity With Probiotic Bacteria in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

NCT01139736 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2013-01-21

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common digestive disorder worldwide. However, there is no effective treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Visceral pain thresholds in response to stress are lower in patients with IBS compared to healthy volunteers, but the triggers to visceral hypersensitivity remain largely unknown. Animal models suggest roles for both host immune response and intestinal bacteria in the induction of visceral hypersensitivity. For instance colorectal distension increased in association with an alteration in bacterial flora induced by antibiotic therapy, which suggest a relationship between bacterial gut content and visceral afferent processing. Intestinal bacteria play a significant role in inducing IBS. Clinical studies have shown that manipulation of the commensal microbiota with probiotic bacteria, in particularly preparations that contain bifidobacteria, can alleviate IBS symptoms. Serotonin (5-HT) plays a crucial role in the regulation of gastrointestinal physiology and alterations in mucosal serotonin signaling is a possible mechanism of altered function and sensation in patients with IBS. Impairment of serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) expression and function may also play a role in IBS. The investigators hypothesise that bacteria modulate sensory afferent and serotonin signaling necessary for visceral sensation and that these pathways can be targeted for therapy of IBS using probiotic bacteria. The first part of this study will be a cross-sectional study comparing the colonic microbiota and SERT polymorphisms in IBS patients and healthy controls. The second part will be an open-label pilot study to assess the effects of oral probiotic bacteria in visceral hypersensitivity and mucosal microbiota in patients with IBS. Clinical response will be assessed based on IBS symptom score and rectal sensitivity, and changes in mucosa microbiota will be measured using 454 pyrosequencing. This proposal will provide novel data on gut microbiota in Asian IBS patients, and explore the mechanisms underlying visceral hypersensitivity to direct future targeting of therapy in IBS.

Conditions

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

VSL#3

IBS Patients will receive VSL#3 (450 billion lyophilized bacteria/sachet) twice daily for 4 weeks

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Chinese University of Hong Kong

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Siew C Ng, PhD · Chinese University of Hong Kong

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2010-07-31
Primary Completion
2011-03-31
Completion
2011-03-31

Countries

  • Hong Kong

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01139736 on ClinicalTrials.gov