Table 2

The effect of probiotic treatment on the number, duration, severity and combined load of gastrointestinal symptoms

Effect of probiotic

treatment relative to

placebo

(mean; 99% CI)

Probiotic

group

(mean ± SD)

Placebo

group

(mean ± SD)

Ratio

Difference

Qualitative

inference

Males

Number of episodes

1.01 ± 1.70

0.49 ± 0.90

2.06;

0.51 to 11

Likely ↑

Duration (d)

3.3 ± 5.8

1.3 ± 7.7

2.57:

0.53 to 17

Likely ↑

Severity (1-3 scale)

1.31 ± 0.33

1.78 ± 0.73

-0.47;

-1.21 to 0.28

Possible ↓

Symptom Load

(severity-days)

4.4 ± 8.1

2.5 ± 5.8

1.76;

0.34 to 15

Possible ↑

Females

Number of episodes

1.44 ± 1.71

0.48 ± 0.71

3.02;

0.76 to 17

Likely ↑

Duration (d)

3.9 ± 5.4

2.1 ± 4.3

1.85;

0.35 to 27

Possible ↑

Severity (1-3 scale)

1.44 ± 0.68

1.75 ± 0.88

-0.31;

-1.39 to 0.79

Possible ↓

Symptom Load

(severity-days)

5.2 ± 7.08

2.9 ± 5.1

1.81;

0.37 to 24

Possible ↑

SD, standard deviation; CI, confidence interval.

Smallest clinically important values for assessing effects qualitatively: ratios, ×/÷1.20; differences, ± 0.5

West et al. Nutrition Journal 2011 10:30   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-30