Several clinical studies published in Chinese support the utilization of Medilac-S (non-commercially known as IBacilluS+) as a supplementary treatment in diverse conditions, encompassing ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acute gastritis, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) therapy.

To consolidate findings from these studies, a systematic review with a meta-analysis was carried out to assess the effectiveness of this probiotic formulation as a complement to traditional IBS agents.

A comprehensive search across 6 international and Chinese databases revealed 37 eligible studies, of which 33 investigated the benefits of Medilac-S as an adjunct therapy utilizing a standardized categorical scale. These 33 studies were incorporated in the meta-analysis, employing a random-effect model stratified by the IBS subtype.

As found, Medilac-S remarkably enhanced the efficiency of conventional IBS therapy (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.17–1.25), indicating a 21% greater likelihood of therapeutic success with the probiotic adjuvant, irrespective of the subtype. Adverse events, noted in 78% of the trials, were predominantly mild-to-moderate and self-resolving, with comparable incidence rates in the probiotic adjuvant (6.2%; n = 1347) and control (5.9%; n = 1331) groups.

The outcomes reinforced the conclusion that Medilac-S serves as a safe and effective supplementary option alongside various conventional treatments for IBS sufferers.