Comparison of efficacies of VSL#3 and mesalamine at 8 weeks
| Parameter | Group A (n=11) | Group B (n=13) | p Value | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stool frequency (mean±SD; number of bowel movements/day) | 2.36±1.02 | 2.8±1.2 | 0.31 | −1.46 to 0.49 |
| Stool weight (mean±SD; g) | 377.6±104.5 | 507±168.2 | 0.03 | −248.8 to −10.5 |
| Stool consistency (mean±SD)* | 3.45±0.82 | 3.30±0.48 | 0.60 | −0.45 to 0.74 |
| Diarrhoeal rate (mean±SD)† | 0.81±0.40 | 1.15±0.55 | 0.10 | −0.74 to 0.07 |
| Abdominal pain (mean±SD)‡ | 0.5±1.0 | 0.46±0.66 | 0.81 | 0.73 to 0.92 |
| Stool mucus (mean±SD)‡ | 1.2±0.7 | 1.9±0.75 | 0.03 | −1.4 to −0.04 |
| Well-being (mean±SD)§ | 2.4±0.5 | 2.9±0.75 | 0.06 | −1.07 to 0.03 |
*Likert scale, 1: very hard; 2: hard; 3: formed; 4: loose; 5: watery.
†0: Normal stools, no diarrhoea; 1: up to 4 loose stools per day above normal, 2: 5–7 loose stools per day above normal, 3: >7 loose stools per day above normal.
‡Likert scale, 0: none; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: severe.
§Visual analogue scale, 1–5; lower score signifies better well-being.