Best Probiotic For IBS: Top 5 Probiotic Supplements In 2023

People diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) suffer tremendously, underscoring the importance of finding a diet that doesn’t cause flares. Unfortunately, they often have issues with finding the best diet that works for them and figuring out which supplements they should take. They are often on the lookout for what is the best probiotic for IBS as well as which probiotic foods they should be adding to their diet. 

IBS is a name for a group^[1] of uncomfortable symptoms that affect your digestive tract. These symptoms include excessive gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, cramps, nausea, and even heartburn. IBS (note the “S”) is called a syndrome because it is based on symptoms, instead of pathology, such as the inflammation seen in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD; note the “D”), ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Being a syndrome and not a disease does not mean it’s trivial; it is certainly not.

IBS is usually differentiated into three different types:

• IBS – C – irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
• IBS – D – irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea
• IBS – M – irritable bowel syndrome with mixed presentations (diarrhea alternating with constipation) of bowel movements

There are plenty of different strains^[3] of probiotic bacteria, but the most common include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. These are the ones you’ll usually encounter in most probiotic supplements on the market. And although different strains address different health conditions, these two have been the most versatile and easily acceptable by the human body. 

The association among pre-, pro-, and postbiotics can be confusing. Prebiotics are basically the fiber that probiotic bacteria eat and thrive on; postbiotics are the waste left behind from digesting the prebiotics and probiotics. More than just refuse, they include nutrients like vitamin B and vitamin K, amino acids, and peptides that inhibit the “bad” bacteria.

Do Probiotics Help IBS?

Probiotics for IBS can do wonders in terms of helping restore and replenish good and healthy gut flora. Studies^[4] have shown probiotics might improve overall unpleasant and painful symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Specifically, a probiotic strain of Bifidobacteria called Bifidobacterium bifidum (MIMBb75)^[5] has shown a great ability to adhere to intestinal cells and help improve the gut microbiome. 

Although the exact cause of IBS remains unknown, these probiotic strains are known to help at least diminish the intensity of IBS symptoms and improve your quality of life. People with IBS often avoid social settings and events as they’re not looking forward to feeling unpleasant symptoms after they eat food that isn’t specifically prepared for them. 

5 Best Probiotics For IBS To Use In 2023

Benefits Of Probiotics For IBS

The aforementioned studies have been very helpful to those with IBS symptoms, citing great success in reducing abdominal pain and bloating, gas, as well as preventing diarrhea and regulating bowel movements. 

Moreover, some studies found that even inactive^[8] probiotics might still have health benefits in those with IBS and improve their gut health while lowering the intensity of their IBS-related symptoms.  

Additionally, probiotics have also shown great success in lowering overall inflammation^[9] in the body as well as strengthening the immune system and your immune response, helping fight off infections and harmful agents. 

How To Choose Probiotics To Treat IBS?

The best probiotics to treat IBS need to have certain characteristics that will ensure you’re getting the best quality and actually feeling the relief of your IBS symptoms. These include

• High number of CFUs helps balance your gut flora and displace the harmful bacteria
• Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains – the more strains aren’t always the merrier, but these two important probiotics are the most researched and have proven to be the most beneficial in treating IBS symptoms as well as all other gastrointestinal issues.
• No artificial ingredients – the probiotic blend should be free of any artificial fillers, binding agents, bulking agents, colors, or sweeteners.
• No gluten, dairy, allergens, GMOs – additionally, the formula should be as clean as possible and contain zero allergens or other ingredients that might create further digestive discomfort, abdominal pain, or inflammatory reactions. 
• Additional prebiotics – prebiotics is substances that help feed the gut bacteria and help maintain their high levels in your intestinal microflora. Choose brands that have a prebiotic blend in the formula.
• Third-party-tested – this ensures purity, potency, and overall high quality of probiotics found in the capsule. Some brands have in-house labs while others perform their testing elsewhere. The latter is always a better option as it’s unbiased and will give the most accurate results. 
• Time-delayed capsule – every probiotic strain is very unstable and can easily be destroyed by the acid in your stomach before it even reaches the rest of your gastrointestinal tract. Time-delayed capsules help protect the probiotics and allow them to reach your intestines intact.

Alternatives Choices

Alternative choices to probiotic supplements are probiotic foods that naturally contain beneficial bacteria. The most commonly used probiotic foods include

• Kefir and yogurt
• Natto
• Kimchi
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Other pickled and fermented vegetables
• Sourdough

These foods naturally^[10] contain beneficial bacterial strains that have been shown to promote overall health and help anyone who is dealing with digestive issues as well as IBS patients. 

Final Thought

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most confusing (to doctors, too!), but a very broad range of unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. From abdominal pain and diarrhea to extreme gas, constipation, and bloating, these symptoms can easily be a sign of plenty of different health conditions. When doctors can’t really pinpoint the cause or blame it on food intolerance, they often revert to IBS. 

Still, even though the exact root cause isn’t known, we do know that certain foods might trigger these symptoms and that one of the main problems IBS patients experience is an unbalanced gut microbiome. These probiotic supplements bring on a plethora of beneficial gut bacteria and may be a great place to start and find much-needed relief. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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