L. Reuteri DSM 17938 and L. Reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 in Moderate to Severe Irritable Bowel in Adults

Rationale: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most commonly diagnosed functional gastrointestinal disorder observed in older children and adults. It is a frequent cause of chronic abdominal pain and changed bowel habits. Produce a significant negative effect on quality of life and it is associated with a significant economic burden disease con total expenditures in USA exceeding $20 billion/year. Since 2008 different clinical trials and meta-analysis had been published about the safety and efficacy of the use of probiotics in adults with IBS. In LATAM evidence about this topic is scarce.

Primary outcome: Global Clinical Improvement assessed by the GSRS-IBS score (Spanish/LA version) Secondary/Exploratory outcomes: Improvements in the Bristol Stool Form (BSF), Quality of Life (QoL) improvement assessed by Latin-American IBS-QoL questionnaire, Goldberg scale depression and Anxiety scale, Frequency of rescue medication use andSecondary adverse events Clinical design: Randomized, double blind, controlled clinical trial, with two arms Type of patients: Age 18-65 years, any gender, ROME IV diagnostic criteria for IBS (Recurrent abdominal pain, on average, at least 1 day per week in the last 3 months, associated with 2 or more of the following criteria a) Related to defecation, b) Associated with a change in frequency of stool, c) Associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool and/or d) Criteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis), with a baseline GSRS-IBS score (Spanish/LA version) moderate to severe IBS, body mass index (BMI 25 to 35 (Mild to moderate obesity) and signed Informed consent.

Subject Information and Consent: All subjects will receive written and verbal information regarding the study at Visit 1. This information will emphasise that participation in the study is voluntary and that the subject may withdraw from the study at any time and for any reason. All subjects will be given the opportunity to ask questions about the study and will be given sufficient time to decide whether to participate in the study. Before any study-related procedures, the informed consent form will be signed and personally dated by the subject and by the person who conducted the informed consent discussion. A copy of the subject information including the signed consent form will be provided to the subject.

Interventions: 2 weeks run in, 14 weeks' treatment and 2 weeks follow up. L. reuteri Gastrus (L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475) at dose of 2x108 Colony Forming Units (CFU). One chewable tablet is to be taken twice per day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) giving a total daily dose of at least 4x108 CFU/day. The placebo will have identical ingredients except for lacking the bacteria. One chewable tablet is to be taken twice per day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). The study products shall be kept refrigerated (+20C - +80C) during the study. Randomization will be performed by Sponsor Labelling will be performed in Research centres by independent pharmacist or similar person not involved in the study.

Study logistics: After informed consent, subjects must to fill a 2-week pre-randomization form to be sure they fill the criteria for IBS and define severity. If the patient fulfils all inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria the patient will be randomized to one of the two treatment groups. According to the randomization groups the patient will receive the corresponding blinded study product. The patient will be standardized to take the research product twice per day for 14 weeks, and complete the GSRS-IBS (Spanish/LA version) and the BSF on a daily basis, the Latin-American IBS-QoL questionnaire, the Goldberg depression and anxiety scale once, a diet history (2 days/week) and the report of adverse events. A basal faecal sample will be obtained in a subsample of patients to ultra-freeze and measure in a second-time microbiota by pyroseq and faecal calprotectin (At the end of treatment). At the end of treatment subjects will be evaluated according to primary and secondary/exploratory outcomes and they will be invited for a third periods, for 2 weeks with no intervention to evaluate the same clinical parameters.