Surprising
Two specific Bacillus coagulans strains beat out common probiotics for abdominal pain in a meta-analysis of 81 IBS trials — but the dose wasn't specified.
Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 and Unique IS2 were ranked as top performers for reducing abdominal pain in a large meta-analysis, but because the dose was not reported and only three small studies underlie the finding, the result should be treated as promising but not definitive.
A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 81 randomized controlled trials (total 9,253 participants) found that the specific probiotic strains Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 and Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 were among the most effective for improving abdominal pain in people with IBS. Both strains scored extremely high (96.9% and 92.6% on a standard ranking scale), but the dose used in the studies was not reported, and the evidence is based on only three studies total for these strains. The findings are noteworthy because they single out two relatively lesser-known strains over more commonly used probiotics for abdominal pain — a symptom that matters deeply to IBS sufferers.
Where this fits in the evidence
Pillser has synthesized 3 studies on Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 for Reduced Abdominal Pain — overall evidence strength: Moderate.
Across all 3 studies, Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 consistently showed beneficial effects on reducing abdominal pain, with large effect sizes in 2 studies and a moderate effect in 1. The evidence, which includes a large systematic review (n=9253) and two smaller RCTs in clinical populations (IBS and functional gas/bloating), indicates benefit in adults with digestive complaints. Doses ranged from 2 billion spores/day to 2 × 10^9 CFU/day, though study durations were not consistently reported.
The study
- Systematic Review
- n = 9,253
- 2023-09-04
- Nutrients
- PubMed: 37686889
- DOI: 10.3390/nu15173856
- Full study breakdown →
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.