Is there a role for probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome?

This brief review appraises the current evidence of the efficacy of probiotics, including lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and VSL#3, in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The mechanisms potentially important will be evaluated, with specific reference to immune function, effects on motility and intraluminal milieu. These experimental and clinical observations suggest that probiotics may play a role in the management of IBS.