Clinical effectiveness of adding probiotics to a low FODMAP diet: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

Table 5 Comparison of the change in visual analogue scale and irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity scale scores in both groups before and after treatment

Parameters	Total, n = 85	Group 1, n = 43	Group 2, n = 42	P value
VAS [Median (min-max)]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-40.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	-58.3 [(-100.0)-40.0]	0.778
IBS-SSS[Median (min-max)]	-47.3 [(-100.0)-30.3)]	-43.5 [(-93.0)-0.0)]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-30.3)	0.871
Pain severity	-50.0 [(-100.0)-50.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-50.0]	0.799
Abdominal pain severity	-50.0 [(-100.0)-50.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-50.0]	0.857
Abdominal distention severity	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	0.561
Satisfaction with intestinal habits	-50.0 [(-100.0)-203.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-100.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-203.0]	0.953
IBS quality of life	-50.0 [(-100.0)-51.5]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-0.0]	-50.0 [(-100.0)-51.5]	0.960

Group 1: Low fermentable oligo, di- and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet + probiotic, Group 2: low fermentable oligo, di- and monosaccharides and polyols diet + placebo. VAS: Visual analogue scale; IBS-SSS: Irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity scale; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome.