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- Title
Impact of a probiotic product on bowel habits and microbial profile in participants with functional constipation: A randomized controlled trial.
- Authors
Martoni, Christopher J.; Evans, Malkanthi; Chow, Cheryl‐Emiliane T.; Chan, Luisa S.; Leyer, Gregory
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of a multi‐strain probiotic product on bowel habits and microbial profile in participants with functional constipation. Methods: This 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. Results: There 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. Conclusions: No 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.
- Subjects
RANDOMIZED controlled trials; CONSTIPATION; BIFIDOBACTERIUM longum; BIFIDOBACTERIUM bifidum; HEALTH outcome assessment
- Publication
Journal of Digestive Diseases, 2019, Vol 20, Issue 9, p435
- ISSN
1751-2972
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/1751-2980.12797