Impact of Symprove in irritable bowel syndrome
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN10344823 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10344823 |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 353868 |
| Sponsor | Symprove Ltd |
| Funder | Symprove Ltd |
- Submission date
- 12/05/2026
- Registration date
- 20/05/2026
- Last edited
- 12/05/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Digestive System
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the digestive system. It's characterised by a range of
symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits. It is well understood that there is overlap between IBS and mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Probiotics and other food supplements can help relieve IBS symptoms in some patients. Symprove is a multi-strain water-based food supplement containing 4 bacterial strains, which can help stimulate the good bacteria already in the gut. It is already widely available to consumers online and in retail. Symprove has been shown to significantly improve IBS symptoms in previous studies. However, these studies did not assess the impact on mental health.
The aim of this pilot study is to explore the impact of a gut supplement called Symprove on both gut symptoms and mental health symptoms.
Who can participate?
Patients aged 18-75 years with IBS. All participants will be recruited through People for Research (UK).
What does the study involve?
This is a nonrandomised virtual study, which does not involve any study visits. After providing consent to take part using an online consent form, all participants will receive a 12-week course of Symprove to take once a day. Participants will also receive a link to complete an online study survey about their symptoms at the beginning of the study before starting Symprove (baseline) and at weeks 4, 8 and 12 (follow-up). To assess the impact of Symprove, we will compare the follow-up data to the baseline.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Although participants may not receive any health benefit from taking part, research like this can improve our understanding of irritable bowel syndrome and help develop new ways to manage it in the future.
A small number of people may experience mild gut disturbances (such as bloating or a change in bowel habit) when they first start taking Symprove. Disturbances will usually resolve in the first few weeks.
Where is the study run from?
Symprove Ltd (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2026 to August 2026
Who is funding the study?
Symprove Ltd (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Lauren Hayman, support@peopleforresearch.co.uk
Contact information
Public
People for Research
Suite 302, QC30, Queen Charlotte St
Bristol
BS1 4HJ
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)117 9210008 |
|---|---|
| support@peopleforresearch.co.uk |
Principal investigator
AC Health and Nutrition Ltd
83 Tattersall Gardens
Southend-on-Sea
SS9 2QS
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)7787568279 |
|---|---|
| alison@achn.co.uk |
Scientific
Symprove Ltd
Sands Rd, The Sands
Farnham
GU10 1PX
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)1252413600 |
|---|---|
| Phil@symprove.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | N/A: single arm study |
| Masking | Open (masking not used) |
| Control | Uncontrolled |
| Assignment | Single |
| Purpose | Supportive care |
| Scientific title | A prospective, single-arm, decentralised, real-world evidence pilot study to assess the impact of Symprove in irritable bowel syndrome |
| Study objectives | The aim of this prospective, 12-week real-world study is to explore the effect of Symprove (70 ml per day) on people with IBS. The objective is to understand the impact on gut symptoms, mental health symptoms, broader patient experience and adverse events. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 18/08/2025, Wales REC 7 (Castlebridge 4, Cardiff, CF11 9AB, United Kingdom; +44 (0)2920230457; Wales.REC7@wales.nhs.uk), ref: 25/WA/0212 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
| Intervention | All participants will receive a 12-week course of Symprove (70 ml per day), a water-based solution that contains billions of live and active bacteria. Participants will also complete study surveys at weeks 4, 8 and 12. The study does not involve any study visits. |
| Intervention type | Supplement |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 23/08/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 150 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adults (18-75 years) in the UK who have IBS, either self-diagnosed or medically diagnosed 2. Experiencing regular symptoms related to IBS (e.g., tummy pain, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Currently taking probiotics or prebiotics supplements (e.g. Bimuno) or yogurts containing probiotics (e.g., Yakult, Actimel) 3. Taken Symprove in the last 3 months 4. Taken antibiotics in the last 4 weeks 5. Diagnosed with gut conditions other than Irritable Bowel Syndrome, such as inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), coeliac disease, hepatitis, gallstones, acid reflux/dyspepsia 6. Received gastrointestinal surgery, cancer treatment or been hospitalised in the last 6 months 7. Diagnosed with any significant or unstable psychological issues (such as depression, bipolar illness, psychosis) 8. Diagnosed with any significant heart, lung or kidney issues 9. Currently pregnant or breastfeeding 10. Patients taking part in other interventional research where they are receiving treatment |
| Date of first enrolment | 29/04/2026 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/05/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Bristol
BS1 4HJ
England
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
12/05/2026: Study's existence confirmed by Wales REC 7.
