Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 for irritable bowel syndrome in adults
What it found
In adults with irritable bowel syndrome, 8 weeks of Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 reduced abdominal pain and increased complete spontaneous bowel movements compared with placebo.
The study was in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Abdominal pain
After 8 weeks, the average pain score fell from 8.2 to 3.4 in the probiotic group and from 8.3 to 6.7 in the placebo group. 84.91% of the probiotic group and 12.73% of the placebo group had at least 50% pain reduction.
Bowel movements
The average number of complete spontaneous bowel movements rose from 2.5 to 4.0 with the probiotic and from 2.2 to 2.4 with placebo. 79.25% of the probiotic group and 40.00% of the placebo group were responders.
Other IBS symptoms
The probiotic group had greater improvement in bloating, urgency, incomplete evacuation, straining, passage of gas, bowel habit satisfaction and stool consistency. 65% of the probiotic group and 32.72% of the placebo group achieved normal stool consistency.
Global relief
More patients in the probiotic group reported complete or considerable relief from IBS symptoms, by both their own assessment and their doctor's. 18.87% of the probiotic group reported complete relief versus 0% of the placebo group.
Inflammation markers
There were no significant changes in blood levels of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-10) with the probiotic compared with placebo.
Safety and side effects
No adverse events were recorded in either group. Haematology, physical and vital examinations showed no abnormal findings. Fewer patients in the probiotic group used rescue medication (3.77% vs 12.72%).
What the authors conclude
“B. coagulans Unique IS2 showed significant improvement in primary and secondary endpoints, as compared to placebo.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that B. coagulans Unique IS2 significantly reduced abdominal pain and increased the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements compared with placebo in adults with IBS.
- They state that symptom severity domains including bloating, incomplete evacuation, urgency, straining, passage of gas, bowel habit satisfaction and stool consistency improved from baseline with B. coagulans treatment compared with placebo.
- They say the decreased use of rescue medications and few adverse events in the B. coagulans group further establish the efficacy and safety of B. coagulans Unique IS2 in IBS in adults.
How it was done
The authors had already shown this strain helped children with IBS, but its effects in adults were not well reported.
153 adults aged 18 to 60 with IBS were screened; 136 were randomised to take either Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 (2 billion CFU) or placebo daily for 8 weeks. 108 completed the study.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a single randomised trial in adults aged 18 to 60, so the results may not apply to other groups or to longer-term use.
- The study cannot show how Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 compares with other IBS treatments, because it was only tested against placebo.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- R.S.M., J.J.A. and J.N. are employed by Unique Biotech Ltd. which is a manufacturer of probiotics. They wish to state that the study was conducted independently with no intervention on their part during the duration of the study.
- Authors work at
- Centre for Research & Development, India; Life Veda Treatment and Research Centre, India
The paper
- Title
- Randomized clinical trial: the effect of probiotic Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 vs. placebo on the symptoms management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Madempudi RS, Ahire JJ, Neelamraju J, Tripathi A, Nanal S (2019). Randomized clinical trial: the effect of probiotic Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 vs. placebo on the symptoms management of irritable bowel syndrome in adults. Scientific reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-48554-xFree full textPubMed 31434935DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error