‘Gold standard evidence’ supports use of probiotic blend to improve constipation

Key takeaways:

• Stool consistency improved markedly among participants given the probiotic blend.
• Probiotic blend may provide a non-pharmaceutical option for relief of GI-related symptoms for occasional constipation.

CHICAGO — Adults with occasional constipation reported significant improvement in stool consistency and GI-related symptoms after receiving a probiotic blend, results from a randomized study presented at NUTRITION showed.

Findings from the phase 3 trial also showed that participants who received the probiotic blend had significantly lower stress levels compared with those who received placebo.

“Constipation is a debilitating gastrointestinal problem in all age groups,” Erin D. Lewis, PhD, scientific director of nutritional sciences at KGK Science, told Healio. “Consumers have access to quick-relief alternatives, but there are not a lot of options for health-conscious consumers to engage in self-care and enhance their gastrointestinal well-being.”

Additionally, older adults may be more susceptible to regular constipation “either due to their polypharmacy or other reasons related to normal aging, such as changes in nutrient absorption and the gut microbiome,” she added.

A healthy gut, “compos[ed] of ‘good’ bacteria, can improve overall well-being from better digestion to a stronger immune system,” Lewis explained.

In the randomized controlled trial, researchers assessed the effects of a probiotic blend containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP-31 and KABP-32 strains on mental health, gastrointestinal function and bowel movements (BMs).

The study included healthy men and women aged 50 to 85 years who had occasional constipation — which was defined by Lewis and colleagues as hard stool consistency, infrequent BMs and straining during defecation. Researchers randomly assigned study participants to receive either the probiotic blend or placebo.

The trial had an 84-day supplementation period and a 21-day follow-up period, while Study investigators assessed gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel function with the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale and daily bowel habits diaries at baseline, 42 days and 84 days.

Additional outcome measurements included perceived stress and quality of life.

Overall, stool consistency improved throughout the trial, with a 35.2% greater improvement following 42 days of probiotic supplementation vs. placebo.

The probiotic supplementation improved BM frequency by 1.89 BMs a week after 42 days and by 1.62 BMs a week after 84 days.

Lewis and colleagues also observed significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms in the probiotic blend group compared with the placebo group (36.6% vs. 31.1%; P < .001) at 84 days.

“We believe that improvements in frequency of BMs and stool consistency in older adults following supplementation were likely driven by favorable changes in gut microbiome composition and/or gut environment,” Lewis said.

Those in the probiotic blend group also had their perceived stress reduced by 16.3% after 84 days.

Additionally, 37.9% of participants in the placebo group reported moderate stress, compared with just 9.4% of probiotic blend recipients.

“Many people may get probiotics from their diet, from yogurt or fermented foods and drinks. However, intake of specific strains of probiotics as a supplement have been found to be beneficial to alleviate certain gastrointestinal issues and other medical conditions,” Lewis told Healio. “This gold standard evidence of efficacy as well as safety is necessary when looking for options to help improve patients’ quality of life, possibly without the need for pharmaceutical intervention.”

She added that, considering links between the gut microbiome and stress regulation, “future investigation of the direct effect of probiotic supplementation on stress in moderately stressed individuals independent of gastrointestinal disturbances is warranted.”