The medical food, which is powered by HMO bioactive prebiotics was released this month in honor of IBS Awareness Month.
According to Culturelle, when taken daily under the supervision of a physician, it is clinically shown to relieve IBS symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea associated with all types of IBS.
"We are digestive health experts, so developing a product that helps with the severity of IBS symptoms was natural," said Brand Manager Eric Bianco.
A spokesperson for the company told NutraIngredients-USA that they understand the importance of a balanced microbiome for digestive and overall wellness and saw an opportunity to help people with IBS in a unique way.
Outside the comfort zone
The offering sets itself apart from other products from the brand, given it probiotic-free and a medical food, a first for Culturelle in both respects.
“Medical foods are formulated for the specific dietary management of a condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements have been established. They are intended to be used under medical supervision, and can be a part of an overall wellness plan created to help patients manage their condition. Culturelle IBS Complete Support is specifically formulated to provide nutritional support for IBS patients,” the spokesperson said.
Culturelle also tried something new last fall by entering in the gummy market with the release of their adult and kid probiotic gummies.
Science
“Culturelle brand focuses on promoting ongoing digestive support as well as everyday wellness for every member of the family. We know that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. An underlying imbalance of the intestinal microbiome is a contributor to this chronic and sometimes debilitating illness,” said the spokesperson.
An open-label clinical study that involved over 300 participants found that Culturelle IBS Complete Support helped relieve the frequency and intensity of IBS symptoms including three fewer days with stomach pain, over four times more regular bowel movements, 59% reduction in bloating severity and a 48% increase in quality-of-life improvements. Additionally, some people started seeing changes after 1-2 weeks, and 87% of participants showed improvement by week 12.
Culturelle IBS Complete Support is free from yeast, gluten, added sugar, soy and artificial dyes. It is available now at a number of retailers, with a suggested retail price of about $30.
