A new probiotic has been identified that may help ease the symptoms of those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

IBS is an uncomfortable condition which affects up to 20 percent of American adults, with symptoms that include cramping abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.

Now, researchers at the University of Sheffield say that nutritional supplements containing a multistrain probiotic known as LAB4 may offer some relief, UK newspaper the Sheffield Star reports.

Over eight weeks, they compared the results seen in a group of patients who consumed the probiotic with those who were given a placebo.

After only two weeks, the probiotic group reported significant improvements, which continued until the end of the trial, the scientists said.

Lead researcher Dr. Elizabeth Williams told the news provider that probiotics in the form of nutritional supplements may provide a welcome option for those who want to avoid dairy.

“This trial has tested a probiotic formula that can be delivered in a capsule and may therefore provide an alternative,” she explained.

There has been no clear consensus about the cause of IBS, but scientists believe that certain types of “bad” bacteria in the gut may play a role.