Impact of a probiotic product on bowel habits and microbial profile in participants with functional constipation: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of a multi‐strain probiotic product on bowel habits and microbial profile in participants with functional constipation.MethodsThis was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled and parallel‐arm study. Altogether 94 otherwise healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years with symptoms of functional constipation were randomized as part of the intention‐to‐treat population. The participants received a placebo or the probiotic product (1.5 × 1010 CFU/day), consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS‐1, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis UABla‐12, Bifidobacterium longum UABl‐14 and Bifidobacterium bifidum UABb‐10 over 4 weeks. Outcomes included the patient assessment of constipation‐symptom (PAC‐SYM) questionnaire, stool frequency and consistency, and microbial profile.ResultsThere were no significant between‐group differences in the PAC‐SYM score, despite significant within‐group differences (P < 0.001) over the study period. The probiotic group showed a faster normalization of stool frequency and consistency, with most participants achieving a normalized profile after 1 week. Fecal samples of the probiotic group exhibited higher relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae (P = 0.0047), including the Ruminococcus genus, and lower relative abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae (P = 0.0172) at end‐point compared with baseline. Placebo group samples showed similar abundance profiles over the study, with the exception of Clostridiaceae, which was lower at the study end‐point (P = 0.0033). Among treated participants, all four probiotic strains were significantly more abundant after the intervention.ConclusionsNo significant differences were observed in symptomology, with both groups showing a more than 20% improvement. However, the probiotic helped modulate bowel function earlier than the placebo, with a corresponding shift to a more fibrolytic microbiota.

Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABla-12 Improve Abdominal Pain Severity and Symptomology in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Participants taking L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABla-12 exhibited normalization of stool type in concert with improved outcomes in abdominal pain severity. Previously, a probiotic blend including the two strains studied here helped modulate bowel habits in functional constipation [12]. In the current study, a reduction in both constipation and diarrhea related stool types and a corresponding increase in normal stool types was observed, most noticeably with L. acidophilus DDS-1.…”

“…The study was unique in its simultaneous and independent assessment of a single strain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in a well-powered three-arm trial of IBS patients across 12 clinical sites. A dose of NLT 1 × 10 10 CFU daily was administered as it is supported by prior gastrointestinal focused randomized controlled trials on the strains [12,13] and is a midpoint dosage in meta-analyses of probiotic studies for IBS [9]. Enrolled participants were primarily young to middle-aged adults, with a mixed gender allocation and a normal to overweight BMI, representing a typical cross-section of IBS in India and elsewhere [27].…”

“…lactis UABla-12) probiotic arms simultaneously in a randomized controlled trial. L. acidophilus DDS-1, alone or in combination with B. lactis UABla-12, has previously been shown to normalize bowel habits in functional constipation [12], provide abdominal symptom relief in lactose intolerance [13] and support immune specific outcomes [14,15] in randomized controlled trials. Mechanistically, L. acidophilus DDS-1 has exhibited immunomodulatory capacity in vitro [16], while both modulating the microbiota and downregulating the inflammatory profile in pre-clinical models [17,18].…”

Probiotics, Anticipation Stress, and the Acute Immune Response to Night Shift

“…lactis UABla-12, on indices of the immune system in individuals undertaking night shift work. L. acidophilus DDS‐1 and B. lactis UABla-12, alone or in combination, have previously been shown to reduce abdominal pain severity and symptomology in irritable bowel syndrome ( 21 ), normalize bowel habits in functional constipation ( 22 ), provide abdominal symptom relief in lactose intolerance ( 23 ) and demonstrate an immune regulatory role in atopic dermatitis ( 24 ) and respiratory tract infection ( 25 ) in randomized controlled trials.…”

Improved Gastric Acid Resistance and Adhesive Colonization of Probiotics by Mucoadhesive and Intestinal Targeted Konjac Glucomannan Microspheres

“…intolerance, promote the immune system, reduce serum cholesterol, resist gastrointestinal (GI) infections, and alleviate constipation. [2][3][4] However, these benefits require the oral intake of large amount of living probiotics to survive through the upper digestive tract to reach the small intestine and colonize at the mucosal membrane of intestine. [5][6][7] The H + from gastric acid may result in the ζ-potential alteration of ingested probiotics, which may subsequently alter cell surface permeability leading to cell death.…”