The effect of multistrain probiotics on functional constipation in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Katarina Fehir Šola
• Author: Sanda Vladimir-Knežević
• Author: Pero Hrabač
• Author: Iva Mucalo
• Author: Luciano Saso
• Author: Donatella Verbanac
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care; Epidemiology

Abstract (english)

Background and objectives: Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions, particularly among older individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of selected multistrain probiotics on functional constipation and laboratory blood parameters in the elderly living in a nursing home.
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Subjects and methods: Sixty participants (42 females and 18 males) aged 77.9 ± 8.84 years with functional constipation, who met the eligibility criteria, completed the study. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, each participant was randomized to receive either the selected probiotic mixture (N = 28) or placebo (N = 32) for 12 weeks as an adjunct to their usual diet and medications. The liquid probiotic formulation containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLC1, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA3 and Lactobacillus casei BGP93 was tested for the first time.
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Results: Supplementation of selected probiotics resulted in a slight but nonsignificant increase in cumulative stool frequency compared with placebo. However, after the 71st day of the treatment, the cumulative number of stools was significantly higher in the probiotic group (P < 0.05) when the influence of laxative was excluded. The trend towards an increase in the difference between the two groups, which began 1 week after the probiotic intervention, pointed out to their prolonged effect. There were no significant dependent or independent effects of treatment and time on most of the 27 laboratory blood parameters tested.
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Conclusions: Multistrain probiotic supplementation was found to be efficacious, safe and well tolerated in the elderly with functional constipation.

• Keywords (english): Aged; Bifidobacterium animalis; Constipation / drug therapy; Constipation / microbiology; Double-Blind Method; Feces / microbiology; Female; Humans; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Male; Probiotics / therapeutic use
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• Numbering: vol. 76, no. 12, pp. 1675-1681
• p-ISSN: 0954-3007
• e-ISSN: 1476-5640
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-022-01189-0
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:628271
• Publication: 2022-08-04
• Document URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-022-01189-0
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-03-14 09:50:34