Systematic review: probiotics in the management of lower gastrointestinal symptoms in clinical practice -- an evidence-based international guide.

"Declaration of personal interests : APSH, LA, PF, CL, JM, GR and NdW are committee members of the ESPCG. Declaration of funding interests : This consensus was supported and facilitated by the ESPCG, which received an unrestricted grant from Danone (Paris, France). At the request of the ESPCG, support for the consensus was provided by Dr Claire Mulligan, Jane Mason MPharm and Dr Chris Winchester (Research Evaluation Unit, Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd, Oxford, UK). The systematic literature searches and initial title/abstract screening were conducted by Lamya Moulay (iNTUiTiO, Paris, France). iNTUiTiO and Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd received project funding from Danone. Danone also provided logistical and financial support for the workshop."

"PH has received financial support for meeting travel and literature review and consensus development activities from Danone, and medical writing assistance from Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd funded by Danone, for the submitted study. PH has also received payment for board membership and consultancy from Almirall and Shire, for expert testimony from Novartis, for lectures from Reckitt Benckiser and Shire and for development of educational presentations from Almirall and Shire. CM is an employee of Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd, which has received project funding from Danone (for the submitted study), AstraZeneca, Shire and the Canadian Association for Gastroenterology, and payment for the development of educational presentations from Shire. BP has received financial support for meeting travel and literature review activities from Danone for the submitted study. BP has also received payment from Danone for developing educational presentations. He has acted as a consultant for Merck, Lallemand, Danone and GAP, has received payment for delivering lectures and presentations from Metagenics and Yakult and has received expenses for meetings from PRI. BP's institution has received research grants/service contracts from BioProx, Danisco, Danone, Kemin, Lesaffre, Roquette and Vesale Pharma. PW has received financial support for meeting travel and literature review activities from Danone for the submitted study. PW has also received consultancy payments from Norgine, Danone, Shire and Almirall and delivered lectures funded by Abbott, Danone and Shire. PW's institution has received grant support from Danone. LA is an employee of the Karolinska Institute. PF has received financial support for meeting travel from Danone for the submitted study. CL has received financial support for meeting travel from Danone for the submitted study. CL has also received payment for consultancy from GlaxoSmithKline AEBE, payment for participation in an expert panel from Pfizer International Operations, S.A.S., and payment for a lecture from Pfizer Hellas A.E./Pfizer Inc. CL's institution has received payment for his participation in an advisory board meeting from Medtronic Inc., grants from the European Commission and payment for his participation in a satellite symposium from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG. JM has received financial support for meeting travel from Danone for the submitted study. J-MPdF has received financial support for meeting travel from Danone for the submitted study. J-MPdF has also received payment for consultancy and development of educational presentations from Metagenics. GR has received financial support for meeting travel and literature review activities from Danone for the submitted study. GR has also received payment for consultancy and development of educational presentations from Almirall. CW has shares in AstraZeneca, and is an employee of Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd, which has received project funding from Danone (for the submitted study), AstraZeneca, Shire and the Canadian Association for Gastroenterology, and payment for the development of educational presentations from Shire. NdW's institution has received a grant from the ESPCG for the submitted study. NdW has received payment for developing E-learning modules for UEGF and book royalties from Elsevier and Bohn Stafleu. His institution holds several research grants from ZON MW, the Dutch Research Institute. Declaration of funding interests: This consensus was supported and facilitated by the ESPCG, which received an unrestricted grant from Danone (Paris, France). At the request of the ESPCG, support for the consensus was provided by Dr Claire Mulligan, Jane Mason MPharm and Dr Chris Winchester (Research Evaluation Unit, Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd, Oxford, UK). The systematic literature searches and initial title/abstract screening were conducted by Lamya Moulay (iNTUiTiO, Paris, France). iNTUiTiO and Oxford PharmaGenesis Ltd received project funding from Danone. Danone also provided logistical and financial support for the workshop."