Friday Aug 15, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study suggests a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans can effectively decrease abdominal pain frequency and diarrhea frequency in patients with irritable  bowel syndrome (IBS).In the study, 85 IBS patients were treated with either a synbiotic with Bacillus Coagulans or placebo for 12 weeks.  Symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the supplementation and nine months after the treatment.Supplementation with bacillus coagulans decreased diarrhea and abdominal pain frequencies, but not constipation frequency in IBS patients.During the nine-month follow-up, abdominal pain frequency remained decreased, constipation frequency increased and diarrhea frequency remained unchanged in IBS patients supplemented with the synbiotic. In comparison, the controls had increased abdominal pain frequency, unchanged constipation frequency and increased diarrhea frequency. (David Liu, PHD)