Effect of composite yogurt enriched with acacia fiber and Bifidobacterium lactis

Table 1 Baseline characteristics and symptom scores (mean ± SD)

	Test group (n = 58)	Control group (n = 59)	P value
Age (yr)	37.43 ± 10.27	34.24 ± 8.67	0.720
Male:female n (%)	17 (29.3):41 (70.7)	18 (30.5):41 (69.5)	0.887
BMI (kg/m2)	21.96 ± 3.01	21.28 ± 2.50	0.184
Subtype of IBS n (%)			0.919
Constipation	19 (32.8)	22 (37.3)
Diarrhea	19 (32.8)	16 (27.1)
Mixed	5 (8.6)	5 (8.5)
Unsubtyped	15 (25.9)	16 (27.1)
Abdominal symptoms
Abdominal pain or discomfort (VAS)	34.05 ± 18.55	33.05 ± 19.94	0.779
Frequency of abdominal pain or discomfort/d	1.73 ± 2.03	1.21 ± 1.17	0.089
Abdominal distension or bloating (VAS)	44.40 ± 21.99	39.83 ± 20.82	0.281
Flatulence/d	5.19 ± 4.01	4.98 ± 2.88	0.749
Bowel habit
Defecation frequency/wk	6.38 ± 5.98	5.69 ± 3.87	0.458
Defecation duration (min)	8.68 ± 6.35	8.85 ± 5.59	0.881
Urgency n (%)	23 (39.7)	22 (37.3)	0.792
Straining n (%)	39 (67.2)	37 (62.7)	0.608
Feeling of incomplete defecation n (%)	39 (67.2)	44 (74.6)	0.382
Stool consistency (BSS)	3.95 ± 1.64	3.54 ± 1.59	0.159
Bowel habit satisfaction (VAS)	32.33 ± 17.53	31.95 ± 18.22	0.909
Discomfort related to daily life (VAS)	36.21 ± 22.54	30.93 ± 17.58	0.160

BMI: Body mass index; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome; VAS: Visual analog scale; BSS: Bristol stool scale.