The simple supplement that can eliminate your daily abdominal pain and diarrhoea in just weeks… I recommend it to all my patients: DR PHILIPPA KAYE

The patient in my consulting room was fed up. The 42-year-old mother of two – let’s call her Nisha – had endured daily abdominal pain and diarrhoea for years. But whenever she sought help, Nisha was told the same thing: it was ‘a bit of IBS’ and there wasn’t much that could be done.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects more than one in ten people in the UK. It’s uncomfortable at best and, at worst, agonising, robbing sufferers of sleep, work and quality of life. Yet there are no NHS-approved prescription drugs specifically designed to treat it.

Worse, many patients like Nisha are given little or no advice on how to manage their symptoms. By the time they land in front of me – often by chance, after years of bouncing between doctors – they are desperate. It saddens me because research increasingly shows there are simple, affordable steps that can dramatically reduce IBS symptoms.

One approach in particular stands out, with remarkable results for many patients: probiotic supplements.

Like many GPs, I’ve long been sceptical of the endless array of supplements that promise to boost health and cure all ills. But probiotics for IBS are one of the few I genuinely recommend. These products – usually drinks or capsules – contain live bacteria designed to improve gut health and, according to research, can ease even severe IBS symptoms.

Perhaps the best known is Symprove, a £50-a-month drink which many patients credit with transforming their lives, tackling everything from diarrhoea to bloating and constipation. But there other probiotic options on the market too.

In recent years, I’ve spoken to a growing number of patients who, sometimes out of sheer desperation, tried probiotics and reported dramatic improvements.

One 60-year-old told me she’d battled bloating and cramps for years until she began taking a daily probiotic capsule with breakfast. ‘I don’t have any symptoms now,’ she said. ‘It only costs around £20 a month and I recommend it to all my friends.’

Probiotics aren’t a cure-all. Evidence suggests roughly half of IBS patients won’t see a meaningful benefit and they’re only one of several simple steps that can help ease symptoms. But could a pro- biotic be right for you and if so, which one should you try?

The need for better IBS treatment is clear. As many as 13million Britons live with the condition, yet doctors still don’t fully understand what causes it or how best to treat it. IBS is usually thought of as an over-sensitive gut, where eating or drinking can trigger pain, bloating and diarrhoea. It’s about twice as common in women as men and most often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

NHS advice is to eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly. Patients are urged to avoid eating too quickly, cut back on fatty, spicy or processed foods, limit themselves to three portions of fruit and three caffeinated drinks a day and steer clear of alcohol and fizzy drinks. But for many, diet tweaks are not enough. Some end up prescribed low-dose antidepressants such as amitriptyline or citalopram, which work on gut-nerve sensitivity, while others are referred for talking therapies to help them cope. No wonder probiotic supplements have become a popular option.

Several studies argue that, for some, IBS could be triggered by an unhealthy gut microbiome – the thriving community of trillions of bacteria and other ‘friendly’ microbes in the stomach. The theory is that a probiotic that boosts gut health can improve symptoms.

The NHS recommends patients try a probiotic for a month to see if symptoms improve. The ones I recommend include Symprove (£50 a month), Bio-Kult (£26), Boots Good Gut Bacteria (£20) and Live Cultures+ (£15). Each contains a different blend of bacteria, so there’s often a bit of trial and error before finding one that helps.

For some, probiotics can make symptoms worse – and there are other approaches. One of the most effective is the low-FODMAP diet, which cuts out certain fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, pulses and nuts.

Eating a balanced diet rich in plant-based ingredients is important for a healthy gut microbiome.

But for many, some of these foods can also trigger symptoms.

The low-FODMAP diet is not meant to be followed for life. Many can gradually reintroduce higher-fibre foods once they have identified their main triggers. Studies show three in four patients respond well to the diet – though many find it hard to stick to.

Exercise is another step that often gets overlooked. Research shows regular activity can ease IBS symptoms and core- strengthening workouts such as yoga and pilates seem particularly effective for reducing bloating.

There are over-the-counter remedies worth trying. Tablets such as Colofac and Buscopan can calm painful gut spasms. Peppermint oil capsules like Colpermin and Mintac may help with bloating and medicines like Imodium and Enterosgel can help with diarrhoea.

All of these options are worth discussing with a GP. Many find a combination of approaches gives the best results. Take Nisha. She now takes a daily probiotic, uses Enterosgel during flare-ups and does regular exercise. Her symptoms haven’t vanished entirely but are far more manageable than when she first came to see me.

The key message is this: don’t let anyone dismiss your symptoms as ‘just a bit of IBS’.

It can be a debilitating condition and with the right steps, no one should have to suffer needlessly.