End Fatigue

E. Coli Bacteria for Spastic Colon and Fibromyalgia

Milk bacteria (e.g., acidophilus, Lactobacillus, etc.) are not the only healthy probiotics. New research using another major healthy bowel bacteria (called E. coli — but not the type that causes food poisoning) has found that it also helps spastic colon. I would note that this is a kind of bacteria that has also been used by Professor DeMeirleir in treating chronic fatigue syndrome associated bowel bacteria overgrowth.

In this study, 298 patients diagnosed with spastic colon were treated with either E. coli probiotics [Symbioflor(R)-2, Symbiopharm GmbH, Herborn, Germany] or placebo. At the end of eight weeks, 19% of the E. coli group had a marked drop in abdominal pain versus 6.7% of the placebo group.

E. coli probiotics are available in Europe but I have not yet seen them in the United States.

Reference

Enck P, Zimmermann K, Menke G, Klosterhalfen S. Randomized Controlled Treatment Trial of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with a Probiotic E.-coli Preparation (DSM17252) Compared to Placebo. Z Gastroenterol. 2009 Feb;47(2):209-14. Epub 2009 Feb 5.