The DOI matches its Crossref record; 108 of the 108 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Mechanisms of Action of Probiotics and the Gastrointestinal Microbiota on Gut Motility and Constipation
Open accessAbstract
Constipation is a common and burdensome gastrointestinal disorder that may result from altered gastrointestinal motility. The effect of probiotics on constipation has been increasingly investigated in both animal and human studies, showing promising results. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the mechanisms of action of probiotics on gut motility and constipation. Several factors are vital to normal gut motility, including immune and nervous system function, bile acid metabolism and mucus secretion, and the gastrointestinal microbiota and fermentation; an imbalance or dysfunction in any of these components may contribute to aberrant gut motility and, consequently, symptoms of constipation. For example, adults with functional constipation have significantly decreased numbers of bifidobacteria (with one study showing a mean difference of 1 log 10/g) and lactobacilli (mean difference, 1.4 log 10/g) in stool samples, as well as higher breath methane, compared with control subjects. Modifying the gut luminal environment with certain probiotic strains may affect motility and secretion in the gut and, hence, provide a benefit for patients with constipation. Therefore, this review explores the mechanisms through which probiotics may exert an effect on gut motility and constipation. Nevertheless, the majority of current evidence is derived from animal studies, and therefore, further human studies are needed to determine the mechanisms through specific probiotic strains that might be effective in constipation.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Gut microbiota, which comprises a complex community of micro-organisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and other micro-organisms, plays a crucial role in gut motility.6”
In the citing paper
“Patients with chronic constipation often exhibit increased proliferation of T cells and lymphocytes such as CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells, indicating the activation of T cellmediated cellular immunity.”
From Chronic constipation and gut microbiota: current research insights and therapeutic implications (2024) · cites this paper as [27]
In the citing paper
“Inf lammation-induced adherence and immune responses by CD8 + T cells on intestinal neurons can lead to acute neuronal injury, colorectal dilation, and slowed colonic water transport, which can result in the development or worsening of constipation symptoms [27].”
From Chronic constipation and gut microbiota: current research insights and therapeutic implications (2024) · cites this paper as [27]
In the citing paper
“In addition, substance P (SP) stored in visceral neurons stimulates smooth muscle contraction and amplifies visceral pain; when constipation occurs in central nervous system disorders, nerves containing SP are stimulated, leading to the release of stored SP and resulting in abdominal pain [8,22,27].”
From Chronic constipation and gut microbiota: current research insights and therapeutic implications (2024) · cites this paper as [27]
In the citing paper
“The production of endogenous substances by the intestinal microbiota can also affect intestinal motility [27,31,38].”
From Chronic constipation and gut microbiota: current research insights and therapeutic implications (2024) · cites this paper as [27]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Hill (2014) · doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66 · Cited by 9,592
Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour
Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn3346 · Cited by 4,572
Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis
Yano, J. M., Yu, K., Donaldson, G. P., Shastri, G. G., Ann, P., Ma, L., Nagler, C. R., Ismagilov, R. F., Mazmanian, S. K., & Hsiao, E. Y. (2015) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.047 · Cited by 3,614
Topping, D. L., & Clifton, P. M. (2001) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.2001.81.3.1031 · Cited by 3,091
Bile salt biotransformations by human intestinal bacteria
Ridlon, J. M., Kang, D.-J., & Hylemon, P. B. (2006) · Journal of Lipid Research · doi:10.1194/jlr.r500013-jlr200 · Cited by 2,829
The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems.
(2015) · PubMed Central · Cited by 2,540
Sayin, S. I., Wahlström, A., Felin, J., Jäntti, S., Marschall, H.-U., Bamberg, K., Angelin, B., Hyötyläinen, T., Orešič, M., & Bäckhed, F. (2013) · Cell Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2013.01.003 · Cited by 2,331
Molecular Analysis of Commensal Host-Microbial Relationships in the Intestine
Hooper, L. V., Wong, M. H., Thelin, A., Hansson, L., Falk, P. G., & Gordon, J. I. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.291.5505.881 · Cited by 2,202
Gut/brain axis and the microbiota
Mayer, E. A., Tillisch, K., & Gupta, A. (2015) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci76304 · Cited by 1,503
Principles and clinical implications of the brain-gut-enteric microbiota axis
Rhee, S. H., Pothoulakis, C., & Mayer, E. A. (2009) · Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology · doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2009.35 · Cited by 1,342 · cited 1×
“The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the normal development of the CNS (23) and seems to interact with both the CNS and gut (24) through microbiota–enterochromaffin cells–vagal afferent nerve signaling (25).”
Background
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Farmer, 1982, The effect of betamethasone on altered responsiveness of isolated intestine from rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (abstr), Br J Pharmacol, 76, 192P
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–473 of 473
Ghalandari, N., Assarzadegan, F., Mahdavi, H., Jamshidi, E., & Esmaily, H. (2022) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4199878
Zhang, C., Yu, L., Ma, C., Jiang, S., Wang, S., Tian, F., Xue, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, H., Liu, L., et al. (2022) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2022.12.15.518621
Muniz, I. C. D. S., Muniz, I. I. D. S., da Silva, I. A., Coimbra, C. G. D. O., & Monteiro, A. C. S. (2022) · Infarma - Ciências Farmacêuticas · doi:10.14450/2318-9312.v34.e3.a2022.pp222-229
Progress of Probiotics in Treating Functional Constipation through Intestinal Flora
那, 日. (2023) · Advances in Clinical Medicine · doi:10.12677/acm.2023.1351212
Mechanism of Occurrence and Development of Fecal Bacteria Transplantation in Functional Constipation
Liang, L., Liu, X., & Zhang, X. (2023) · International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Research · doi:10.26855/ijcemr.2023.07.020
Yang, T., Ma, Z., Liu, F., Zhou, W., Sun, J., Huang, X., Ke, P., Duan, J., & He, Y. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3311706/v1
Zhou, C., Yi, Y., Taishi, Y., Wang, L., & Qu, J. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3090202/v1
The Role of Gut Bacteria in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Damianos, J., & Shah, E. D. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-46712-7_6
PROBİYOTİKLERİN ETKİ MEKANİZMALARI
İDUĞ, T., & Güldemir, H. H. (2024) · İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi · doi:10.61399/ikcusbfd.1366834
Fedorin, M. M., Livzan, M. A., Gaus, O. V., & Pashkova, E. (2024) · Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council · doi:10.21518/ms2024-168
Goy, B., Berkenou, J., Rothenbühler, A., Audrain, C., Linglart, A., & Dubern, B. (2024) · Hormone Research in Paediatrics · doi:10.1159/000539995
Korotko, U., Biskupski, M., Cygnarowicz, A., Hosseinnejad, N., Mandziuk, A., Sacher, K., Turemka, M., Witowska, K., Wojtas, A. K., Zabojska, K., et al. (2024) · Journal of Education Health and Sport · doi:10.12775/jehs.2024.76.56616
Wei, S., Qian, J., Zou, M., Ye, Q., Zhou, W., Gu, Y., Tang, L., Liu, H., & Zhang, C. (2025) · Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology · doi:10.21037/tgh-24-99
Piao, Y., Luo, J., Ren, T., Wang, A., Li, Y., Pan, L., Li, X., Li, F., Bao, Y., Zheng, F. Y., et al. (2025) · Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry · doi:10.1002/rcm.10065
Changrun Formula Relieves Functional Constipation by Improving Intestinal Motility in Rats
Xiao, Q., Hong, Y., & Geng, X. (2025) · Gastroenterology Research and Practice · doi:10.1155/grp/5790162
Yang, W., Jiang, C., Shao, Y., Gu, S., & Hong, M. (2025) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1594644
Saalieva, A. N., Кочкорова, Ф. А., Esenamanova, M. K., Usubalieva, A. Z., Turgunbaeva, N. M., Isakova, D., Dyusheeva, N. S., Turdubekova, S., & Elemanova, R. (2025) · Heart Vessels and Transplantation · doi:10.24969/hvt.2025.575
Chronic Constipation in the Elderly
Puri, R., & Puri, R. (2025) · Journal of The Indian Academy of Geriatrics · doi:10.4103/jiag.jiag_28_25
Gao, Y., Li, H., Wu, Q., Chen, B., Xu, K., Li, C., & Shen, Y. (2025) · Foods · doi:10.3390/foods14162800
Konjac Oligosaccharide Alleviates Constipation in Mice via 5-HT4R/cAMP/PKA/p-CREB Pathway Activation
Sun, G.-J., Li, M., Zhang, X.-Y., Liu, J.-S., Lin, A., & Cai, Q. (2025) · Current Medical Science · doi:10.1007/s11596-025-00102-7
王, 婧. (2025) · Advances in Clinical Medicine · doi:10.12677/acm.2025.15102791
Discovery of Novel Probiotic Species to Improve Infant HealthPreprint
Lu, R., Lee, N., Drake, A. J., Fulton, R. P., Abutaleb, N. S., Seleem, M. N., Oakland, D. N., Garin-Laflam, M. P., Pop, M., & Luo, X. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.10.27.684727
Ye, Z., Niu, Y., Yang, W., Ji, B., Peng, Y., Song, J., Xiang, C., & Wang, Z. (2025) · Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences · doi:10.22358/jafs/204468/2025
Yu, W., Xue, J., Yang, Z., Xie, X., Feng, Y., & Zeng, Y. (2025) · Food Science & Nutrition · doi:10.1002/fsn3.71298
Zhu, L., Gao, H., Li, Q., Wang, Y., Li, J., Li, X., Huang, Z., Wang, C., & Nie, J. (2025) · Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology · doi:10.3389/fcimb.2025.1705271
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671287
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671272
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671281
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671995
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672013
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671275
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672025
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672001
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671278
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672019
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672004
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672007
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671269
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671284
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671989
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672016
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672028
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671998
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672022
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26672010
Wu, K., Luo, Q., Liu, Y., Li, A., Xia, D., & Sun, X. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671266
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671986
Zhou, J., Wei, H., Zhou, A., Xiao, X., Xie, X., Tang, B., Lin, H., Tang, L., Meng, R., Yuan, X., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26671992
Pan, L., Hu, W.-F., Fu, Z., Yu, X., Li, Z., Guo, M., Wu, J., & Zhu, H. (2025) · Molecular Nutrition & Food Research · doi:10.1002/mnfr.70358
Abideen, Z. U., Waseem, M. H., Shoaib, A., Ramzan, N., Ch, M. T. A., Thada, P. K., & Jalal, P. K. (2026) · Colorectal Disease · doi:10.1111/codi.70399
Xu, Y., Wang, M., Chen, M., Wang, Z., Zhang, B., Wang, X., Shang, L., Zhang, L., Sui, B., Zhang, W., et al. (2026) · Food Frontiers · doi:10.1002/fft2.70249
Rao, X., Luo, Q., Wei, W., Wei, B., Yang, X., Liu, Y., Wen, Y., Ma, Z., Wu, Z., Zhang, H., et al. (2026) · BMC Microbiology · doi:10.1186/s12866-026-04831-0
Fan, Y., Qin, H., Liu, J., Abbas, M., Yang, C., Cheng, H., & Dong, X. (2026) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1775405
Chen, M., Chen, Z., Xiong, Z., Guo, Q., Yang, Y., Shen, S., Wang, C., Zhu, Z., Wang, X., & Li, J. (2026) · Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation · doi:10.1007/s12247-026-10480-7
Cline, M. G., & Husník, R. (2026) · Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice · doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2026.02.002
Liu, S., Yang, Q., Du, L., Yang, Y., & Wu, Z. (2026) · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151532 · Cited by 1
Microbiome-based biomarkers for irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis
Kotthapalli, P., & Archer, A. C. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-40483-2.00026-1
Shi, Q., Chen, B., Gao, S., Shen, M., & Han, J. (2026) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare14070901
Wang, Y., Zhen, S., Sun, M., Su, L., & Yan, S. (2026) · Neurogastroenterology & Motility · doi:10.1111/nmo.70341
Gubska, O., Vanchytskiy, A. O., Ткаченко, В. И., Kiriienko, V. T., Kuzminets, A. A., Panin, A. V., & Denesyuk, O. R. (2026) · GASTROENTEROLOGY · doi:10.22141/2308-2097.60.2.2026.723
Yan, J., Li, B. X., Zhang, D., Liu, Y., Wang, X., Li, J., Xing, Q., Wu, P., Tao, Y., Li, D., et al. (2026) · Journal of Functional Foods · doi:10.1016/j.jff.2026.107366
Zhang, S., Cheng, X., Chen, L., & Wang, Y. (2026) · Food Bioscience · doi:10.1016/j.fbio.2026.109243
Asgari, G., Rahmani, M., Madandar, A., Aldaghi, T., Khalili‐Tanha, G., & Nazari, E. (2026) · Food Production Processing and Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s43014-026-00389-6
Je, J.-G., Kim, C.-Y., Lee, S.-W., Amarasiri, R. P. G. K., Hyun, J., Ryu, B., & Jeon, Y. (2026) · Marine Drugs · doi:10.3390/md24080266
Zhao, X., Song, Y., Zhu, J., Ma, B., Liang, D., Xu, Z., & Ma, Y. (2026) · Frontiers in Pharmacology · doi:10.3389/fphar.2026.1880189
Song, X., Wang, Z., Zhang, Z., Wang, X., Xu, J., Ouyang, B., 俞兰秀, Wang, Y., Geng, W., & Jia, L. (2026) · Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture · doi:10.1002/jsfa.71070
Xu, Z., Zhou, L., Shengjie, D., Feng, L., Wang, Z., Guocheng, L., Cai, Q., Chen, H., Xinling, Z., Yan, L., et al. (2026) · Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology · doi:10.1111/jgh.70746
Zakharova, I. N., Fayzullina, R. A., Berezhnaya, I. V., Medvedeva, E. A., Pupykina, V. V., & Orobinskaya, Y. V. (2026) · Pediatrics Consilium Medicum · doi:10.26442/26586630.2026.3.203812
Lebon, L., David, D. J. P., Gasnier, M., Mendez‐David, I., Becquemont, L., Verstuyft, C., Hen, R., Corruble, E., & Colle, R. (2026) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/pcn.70151
Hu, X., Xu, B., Wu, Q., & Ma, T. (2026) · Trends in Food Science & Technology · doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2026.106165
Metadata
- Authors
- Dimidi, E., Christodoulides, S., Scott, S. M., & Whelan, K.
- Affiliations
- Queen Mary University of London (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Whelan, Kevin
- Venue
- Advances in Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-05
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 484-494
- ISSN
- 2156-5376 (ISSN-L)
- 2161-8313
- PMC
- PMC5421123
- OpenAlex
- W2615801135
- Cited by
- 468
- References
- 108
- Citations by year
- 2026: 36 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 73 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 3.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Advances in Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Queen Mary Research Online (Queen Mary University of London) (submittedVersion)
- 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
- probiotics, constipation, intestinal motility, gut microbiota, Bifidobacterium, lactobacilli, bile acid metabolism, mucus secretion, gut fermentation, breath methane, functional constipation, immune function, nervous system function
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Animals, Constipation, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Gastrointestinal Motility, Humans, Probiotics, Gastrointestinal Tract
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
