Conditions: Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 26
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Irritable bowel syndrome is a complex condition with a high unmet medical need for effective and safe treatment options. Lacteol® is a lactobacillus product used for adjunctive and symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. In this study, Lacteol® 340 mg will be evaluated as a potential therapy for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

Detailed description:
This study will include the following phases: Screening Phase, Run-In Phase, Double-Blind Treatment Phase and Open-Label Treatment Phase.

Screening: Eligibility of subjects will be evaluated following informed consent signature. Screening procedures/evaluations (physical exam, concomitant medications, clinical laboratory tests) and confirmation of eligibility following Rome III Diagnostic questionnaire will be performed.

Run-In: Subjects will enter a 2-week Run-In Phase during which IBS Symptoms and Stool Characteristics will be recorded. At the end of the Run-In Phase, data collected over the last week will be reviewed. Upon confirmation of IBS-D severity status, subjects may be randomized.

Double-Blind Treatment: Subjects will take study medication (either LACTEOL® 340 mg or Placebo) for 28 days. During this time, IBS Symptoms and Stool Characteristics and global assessment of relief will be recorded, and clinical laboratory tests will be performed. HAD score will be assessed at the end of the double blind treatment.

Open-Label Treatment: All study completers will be eligible for a second 28 day Open-Label Treatment in the event that IBS-D symptoms remain or recur within the month following the end of Double-Blind Treatment. Subjects will take the study medication (LACTEOL® 340 mg) for 28 days. During this time, IBS Symptoms and Stool Characteristics and global assessment of relief will be recorded, and clinical laboratory tests will be performed.

Arms:
arm 1: None arm 2: None

Interventions: intervention 1: LACTEOL® 340 mg intervention 2: PLACEBO
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: LACTEOL® 340 mg will be taken for a 4-week duration (28 days) as three capsules a day: two capsules in the morning and one capsule in the evening. intervention 2: Matched LACTEOL® 340 mg Placebo will be taken for a 4-week duration (28 days) as three capsules a day: two capsules in the morning and one capsule in the evening.

Protocol document: