A revolutionary new way to treat IBS is being launched in Ireland, which could substantially reduce medical costs for nearly one million sufferers.
Symprove, a natural supplement drink made from barley with live and ‘ready-to-work’ bacteria, will be available over the counter from pharmacists and health food stores.
Heralded as a major breakthrough for Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers, it has been proven as an effective treatment for the condition in an independent NHS trial, combating symptoms including bloating, constipation, cramping pain and diarrhoea, with no side effects.
IBS can be costly because sufferers may have to take several different prescription drugs to tackle various symptoms, whereas Symprove treats all their symptoms naturally.
Around a fifth of the country’s 4.5 million population suffer from IBS, although experts believe this figure may be higher, as many people are not aware they have the condition or have not been clinically diagnosed but still try to self-treat.
Explained Professor Ingvar Bjarnason, one of Europe’s leading gastroenterologists who headed up the NHS study at King’s College Hospital London: “The Symprove trial is a real breakthrough for IBS sufferers, as we now have robust evidence of a treatment that can reduce the severity of a range of IBS symptoms. Because IBS is a multi-symptom condition, with patients suffering pain, altered bowel movements and bloating, having a treatment that can address all areas of the disease is a major advancement.”
“Many existing treatments have very little efficacy and also have severe side effects. Symprove is a natural product and it was well tolerated with no side effects, which is another huge benefit for the patient.”
Doctors believe it is the unique way that Symprove is able to restore and balance essential microflora (‘friendly’ bacteria) in the gut that is key to its success as a treatment for gastro conditions like IBS, as well as for people who simply want to maintain a healthy gut.
They recommend that people take a three month course of the health drink to fully re-set and re-balance the digestive system.
Research by Symprove has revealed that 86% of the Irish population suffer from gastro or digestive problems, with half being unlikely to seek help from their GP, preferring instead to get advice from their pharmacist or health store.
As part of the launch, which follows a successful pilot in Dublin, stores will offer consumers expert advice on how Symprove can treat IBS and the importance of keeping a balanced gut.
Said leading pharmacist Oonagh O’Hagan, who managed the Dublin pilot: “Symprove stands out from anything else currently on the market. It can vastly improve quality of life for IBS sufferers in a very short time period – we’ve seen patients’ symptoms vanish within a matter of weeks. Symprove is going to change the way IBS is treated and managed, as patients may no longer need to rely on several costly prescriptions for the condition.”
IBS, which is the fastest growing gastro disease area, has a major impact on a sufferer’s everyday life and is one of the most common causes of time off work.
Symprove is made from four species of naturally occurring bacteria grown on extract of germinated barley. This is also a natural food source (prebiotic) for the live bacteria to flourish and grow. Until recent EU regulatory changes, products containing beneficial bacteria were known as ‘probiotics’.
Symprove, which contains no artificial flavours or colours and is non-dairy and gluten free, works in a completely different way to other products. This is due to its water-based Unique Delivery System (UDS™), which protects the bacteria as they travel through the acidic environment of the stomach and enables the live bacteria to reach the colon unharmed. Dairy-based products set off the digestive process which can harm or destroy the live bacteria.
Symprove is available in Mango & Passionfruit flavour and is priced at €26 for a 500ml bottle. For further information on where Symprove is available, please visit www.symprove-stockist-ireland.com