Chr. Hansen webinar preview: The IBS and gut-brain axis link and how probiotics can help

13 Jan 2023 --- Chr. Hansen details the connections between the gut-brain axis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as well as the ability of some probiotics, like the company’s DDS-1 strain, to alleviate many of the symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal (GI) disorder ahead of its webinar on January 26 (10:00 CET).

“Increasing evidence supports a link between psychological processes, stress and IBS symptoms,” Dr. Christopher Martoni, Principal Clinical Development Scientist at Chr. Hansen’s Human Health division tells NutritionInsight.

“Within the gut, IBS symptoms may be linked to alterations in the gut microbiome, which may in turn, be linked to an impaired immune response, altered gut motility and increased permeability of the gut leading to inflammation.” 

IBS and gut discomfort
According to Martoni, characteristics of IBS – such as abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and irregular bowel movements – can be caused by several factors, including stress, food, muscle contractions or severe infections. This can result in poor quality of life and even mood disorders for IBS sufferers.

Chr. Hansen’s DDS-1 strain has been shown to alleviate stress related to IBS along with its symptoms.“Communication between the gut and the brain occurs along various pathways within the body. The gut-brain communication is bidirectional, and there is evidence that a disruption in either of these pathways can contribute to symptoms of IBS, such as abdominal pain and altered bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation),” explains Martoni.

“DDS-1 has been shown to have a moderating effect on GI discomfort and may act via supporting barrier function or moderating the inflammatory response and stress response. Importantly, it has been clinically demonstrated in a well-powered, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that met its pre-specified primary and secondary outcomes.”

Improving the gut
According to Martoni, DDS-1 is a carefully selected probiotic strain of L. acidophilus that has been shown to support overall gut health and alleviate stress-related GI discomfort. Additionally, he defines probiotics as live microorganisms that can confer a health benefit to the host, provided they are administered in an adequate amount.

He further explains that meta-analyses have shown that probiotics have a significant positive effect on IBS symptoms and related GI issues over that of placebos. However, there is diversity in how well some probiotic strains perform, with some strains, like DDS-1, performing better than others.

One such study included 330 adults with IBS challenges and the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study split the participants into three groups. One group received DDS-1, the other group received UABla-12 and the last group received a placebo for six weeks. When measuring abdominal discomfort, significant differences were observed in the group taking DDS-1 compared to the groups taking UABla-12 and  placebo with regards to reduction of abdominal pain severity.

Reducing stress
DDS-1 also performed better on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). During the intervention, participants supplementing with DDS-1 moved from average to a low stress level, which we did not see with those given UABla-12 or placebo – indicating a significant reduction of one of IBS’ main contributing factors.Dr. Christopher Martoni will lead a webinar about IBS and probiotics on January 26 at 10:00 CET.

According to Martoni, this study shows L. acidophilus DDS-1 as a strain that can alleviate GI discomfort and its related stress.

“This unique strain may work through a variety of mechanisms, including by providing an immune balancing effect, moderating markers associated with inflammatory response, supporting gut barrier function and moderating blood cortisol levels,” he states. 

The mechanics of it all
Martoni further states that Chr. Hansen hypothesizes that DDS-1 may moderate the perception of stress due to the bidirectional communication that occurs between the gut and the central nervous system.

“Additionally, central sensory processes may be modified in IBS, resulting in visceral hypersensitivity or increased perception of pain,” Martoni underscores. “We are committed to our mission of leveraging our expertise in science to bring solutions that improve human health. This applies just the same to the hot area of the gut-brain axis.”

“Chr. Hansen is utilizing a variety of tools and research platforms to characterize probiotic strains in the gut-brain area,” he concludes. “We are currently conducting both pre-clinical and clinical trials on probiotic candidates to explore efficacy and better understand mechanisms of action in the interaction between the gut and brain.”

By William Bradford Nichols