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Cited by 67Gastrointestinal motility and disordersProbiotics and Fermented FoodsGut microbiota and health

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

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Martoni, Christopher J., Evans, Malkanthi, Chow, Cheryl‐Emiliane T., Chan, Luisa S., Leyer, Gregory·2019·Journal of Digestive Diseases
DOI 10.1111/1751-2980.12797PMC PMC6851827
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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 × 10 10 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.

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Cited by

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Authors
Martoni, C. J., Evans, M., Chow, C. T., Chan, L. S., & Leyer, G.
Affiliations
  • UAS Laboratories Windsor Wisconsin USA
  • KGK Science London Ontario Canada
  • Second Genome (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
Leyer, Gregory
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Digestive Diseases
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2019-08
Volume
20
Issue
9
Pages
435-446
ISSN
  • 1751-2972 (ISSN-L)
  • 1751-2980
DOI
10.1111/1751-2980.12797
PMC
PMC6851827
OpenAlex
W2953536141
Cited by
67
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1
FWCI
5.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Digestive Diseases (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
functional constipation, probiotics, multi-strain probiotics, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, gut microbiota, stool frequency, stool consistency, Ruminococcaceae, Ruminococcus, Erysipelotrichaceae, Clostridiaceae
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Energy Intake, Constipation, Defecation, Double-Blind Method, Feces, Humans, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Bacterial Typing Techniques, Exercise, Treatment Outcome, Probiotics, Metagenome, Young Adult

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