Pharmaceutical compositions containing pediococcus and methods for reducing the symptoms of gastroenterological syndromes

Abstract

The invention provides a method and composition for ameliorating or reducing the symptoms, signs, and markers and for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or gastritis in a mammal in need thereof, said method comprising administering effective amounts of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition containing at least one probiotic microorganism strain comprising Pediococcus for a time sufficient to ameliorate, reduce or treat at least one symptom, sign, or marker of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease or gastritis.

1 . A method for treating abdominal distention in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising  Pediococcus acidilactici  in an amount sufficient to treat the abdominal distention. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 200 million colony forming units (CFU) of  Pediococcus acidilactici  per dose. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more  Bifidobacterium  species and one or more  Lactobacillus  species. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more  Bifidobacterium  species are selected from  Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum,  and  Bifidobacterium infantis.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more  Lactobacillus  species are selected from  Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus,  and  Lactobacillus salivarius.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises  Streptococcus thermophilus.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of an antibiotic agent, an antifungal agent and a prebiotic agent. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating abdominal distention, gas, abdominal cramps or constipation in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising the following amounts of probiotic microorganisms per serving or dose:
   Pediococcus acidilactici  1.5 billion CFU;     Bifidobacterium breve  0.5 billion CFU;     Bifidobacterium infantis  0.5 billion CFU;     Lactobacillus paracasei  0.5 billion CFU;     Lactobacillus salivarius  0.5 billion CFU;     Bifidobacterium lactis  1.0 billion CFU;     Bifidobacterium longum  1.0 billion CFU;     Streptococcus thermophilus  1.0 billion CFU;     Lactobacillus bulgaricus  1.0 billion CFU;     Lactobacillus casei  2.5 billion CFU;     Lactobacillus plantarum  2.5 billion CFU;     Lactobacillus acidophilus  3.0 billion CFU;     Bifidobacterium bifidum  3.5 billion CFU; and     Lactobacillus rhamnosus  6.0 billion CFU.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of an antibiotic agent, an antifungal agent and a prebiotic agent 
     
     
         10 . A method for ameliorating or treating at least one symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or gastritis in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising, in an amount sufficient to ameliorate or treat the at least one symptom,  Pediococcus acidilactici,  one or more  Bifidobacterium  species and one or more  Lactobacillus  species, wherein the one or more  Bifidobacterium  species are selected from  Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum,  and  Bifidobacterium infantis,  and wherein the one or more  Lactobacillus  species are selected from  Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus,  and  Lactobacillus salivarius.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one symptom is selected from the group consisting of: a gnawing or burning ache or pain in the upper abdomen; nausea;
 vomiting; loss of appetite; belching or bloating; a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating; weight loss; gastric ulcer; duodenal ulcer; inflammation of the stomach lining; a positive test for urease in the stool; a positive test for urea in the breath; gas (flatulence); diarrhea or constipation; a change in frequency of bowel movements; a change in appearance of bowel movements; feelings of uncontrollable urgency to have a bowel movement; mucus in the stool; pain with passing stool; rectal bleeding; bloody stools; intestinal inflammation; intestinal abscesses and/or fistulas; and pouchitis.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising  Streptococcus thermophilus.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of an antibiotic agent, an antifungal agent and a prebiotic agent.