LGG and IBS – A Gut Comfort Microbe?

We can all appreciate a calm gut. Digestive discomfort can be a very real challenge for some, ranging from mild stomach ache or bloating straight through to severely debilitating illnesses such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and the harsh symptoms that come along with that.

Our digestion can be impacted by a variety of different things in our day to day life. The most obvious is food and drink, as what we put in is always going to have an impact. But what about what’s already there? What about our gut microbiome? And if it does have an impact, can we change it to make it better? With so much research into more complex effects of how the microbiome may impact our bodies, from mental cognition and wellbeing, to allergies, through to the health and growth of babies, and benefits during antibiotic use, sometimes it’s easy to forget one of the most obvious things, which is how it impacts our day to day digestion. This is something that applies to all of us, but will be of most interest to people who suffer from regular digestive issues such as IBS and the many associated conditions.

It goes without saying that when researchers decided to ask if probiotics can have an impact on our digestive system, the obvious starting point was one of the most studied bacterium in the world, and that is LGG.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) has been one of the most widely studied bacterial strains for supporting gut balance and digestive stability in the entire field of probiotic research. Over the years, scientists have explored its potential to help maintain comfort in people with sensitive digestive systems, including those diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), to better understand how LGG might modulate symptoms. Most of the studies in this area are conducted to randomised control trial standard, with some double-blind placebo controlled, ensuring that the tests were fair and of the highest standard, providing us with results we can trust to be objective and unbiased. So what did these studies find? Let’s have a look.

Let’s have a look at the studies, then

LGG was discovered in the 1980’s, and there has been a simply enormous body of research into it since then, a lot of that research focused on digestion. Let’s have a look at some of the old, and some of the new.

Early insights

One of the earliest investigations into LGG’s role in digestive balance came from researchers in Europe in the early 1990s.

In this trial, adults with mild IBS-like symptoms took LGG daily for six weeks. The participants who received LGG reported fewer episodes of loose stools and cramping, while stool cultures confirmed that LGG survived its journey through the digestive tract, an important sign that the bacteria can reach and survive the full digestive system.

This was an encouraging early study, as it showed clearly that not only did LGG have a direct positive effect, but that it survives the entire digestive tract, meaning it can get to work throughout!

Modern clinical trials

More recent studies have explored LGG both alone and in combination with other well-studied bacterial species, focusing specifically on adults diagnosed with IBS.

In a 2018 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 123 adults, those who took LGG daily for 12 weeks experienced a significant reduction in abdominal pain scores and more regular bowel movements compared with the placebo group.

Interestingly, and importantly, this study was conducted with participants taking supplements of both LGG and BB12 (Bifidobacterium Animalis subps. Lactis BB12), another well researched and promising microbe that we’re passionate about, and one that we offer as part of our range, demonstrating how these two microbes can work as a team.

Blood tests in another similar study also showed lower levels of gut inflammation markers, with a reduction in IL-6 and TNF Alpha. These are inflammatory cytokines, and put simply, they are known as markers of inflammation and irritation, so a reduction was a positive thing! This is consistent with a lot of the research conducted into LGG’s effects on the immune environment and levels of IgA, an immune marker, as well as reduction of other inflammatory markers.

Another clinical study published in 2011 found that people taking a supplement containing LGG, among other bacteria, for six weeks experienced less bloating and overall digestive discomfort than those taking placebo, supporting the idea that LGG can help maintain a steadier digestive rhythm in sensitive individuals, even when paired with other microbes.

Across all of these studies, participants tolerated LGG extremely well, with no increase in side effects compared with placebo, which translates to no safety concerns at all!

So how does it work?

Researchers believe that LGG works by helping the gut maintain a balanced community of bacteria and supporting the natural lining of the intestines and the mucosal barrier.

In people with IBS, this delicate balance can be easily disrupted, leading to irregular movements, bloating, and discomfort, and occasionally far more severe symptoms including cramping and intense pain.

By promoting a more stable environment, LGG may help the gut stay calm, by limiting inflammatory markers as research has found, allowing it to function more smoothly.

Several trials have also measured immune markers and found that participants taking LGG showed lower levels of certain inflammatory signals related to immunity in their bloodstream, as well as higher levels of immune agents such as IgA, and a strong immunity is never a bad thing, especially when we want a calm and resilient gut.

So how does this apply to me?

Over three decades of research, including multiple gold-standard human trials, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has shown that it may play a valuable role in maintaining digestive comfort and supporting gut balance.

In adults with sensitive digestion or diagnosable conditions such as IBS, daily use of LGG has been linked to a variety of benefits. These people had more regular bowel movements, less bloating and cramping, a calmer and more stable digestive environment, and reduced markers of inflammation in their gut.

There is a lot of evidence in this area as it’s one of the most studied areas in probiotics, and there is very possibly no microbe more studied, and with a more compelling body of evidence behind it, than the impressive LGG.

Reference (the science) – Don’t just take our word for it:

Goldin, B.R., Gorbach, S.L., Saxelin, M., et al. (1992) Survival of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in human gastrointestinal tract. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 46(Suppl 4), S93–S99. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1425482
Zeng, J., Li, Y.Q., Zeng, Y.S., et al. (2018) Clinical trial of probiotics containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 in irritable bowel syndrome. Beneficial Microbes, 9(4), 575–584. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29745792
Guglielmetti, S., Mora, D., Gschwender, M., et al. (2011) Randomized clinical trial: probiotics and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 17(34), 5115–5121. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21987628

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