Irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity improves equally with probiotic and placebo

Table 6 Change in stool consistency from baseline according to Bristol stool scale¹n (%)

	n	Change to optimal from constipation or diarrhea	Change to constipation or diarrhea from optimal
Placebo	131
Week 4		18 (13.7)	15 (11.5)
Week 12		21 (16.0)	18 (13.7)
Washout		20 (15.3)	17 (13.0)
Low-dose	129
Week 4		26 (20.2)	13 (10.1)
Week 12		27 (20.9)	14 (10.9)
Washout		14 (10.9)	12 (9.3)
High-dose	131
Week 4		14 (10.7)	16 (12.2)
Week 12		18 (13.7)	20 (15.3)
Washout		14 (10.7)	18 (13.7)
Total	391	172 (44.0)	143 (36.6)

¹Bristol stool scale types 1 and 2 were classified as constipation; 3, 4, and 5 were classified as optimal stool consistency; and 6 and 7 were classified as diarrhea.