{"title":"Gut microbiota, SCFA and nutritional intake in stunted children in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.","authors":"I S Surono, A F Athiyyah, K Venema","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We recently showed that the gut microbiota composition in a cross-sectional study of 36-45 month old stunted children was different from that of normal children in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Here, we compared anthropometric measures and nutritional intake, and we correlated percent macronutrient intake to fecal short-chain (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) concentrations, and gut microbiota composition in this cohort. The concentrations of the SCFA acetate and propionate are significantly lower in feces of stunted children, while butyrate and BCFA showed no difference. Moreover, percentage fat-intake correlated negatively to fecal propionate ( q = 0.007; rho = -0.23) and butyrate ( q = 0.041; rho = -0.18) concentrations, while percent fibre-intake, as expected, positively correlated with butyrate concentrations ( q = 0.0001; rho = +0.30). There was a trend for percent carbohydrate-intake to positively correlate with fecal butyrate concentrations too ( q = 0.067; rho = +0.18). In addition, 48 of the 124 taxa in the dataset showed correlations with one or more of the nutritional intake parameters (percent energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate or fibre). Of the three taxa that we reported before to be significantly different when compared between stunted and normal nutritional children, only Faecalibacterium showed significance with nutritional intake, particularly positive correlations with percent carbohydrate- ( q = 0.036; rho = +0.19) and percent fibre-intake ( q = 0.038; rho = +0.20). The results add to the insight of the role of the gut microbiota in stunting and possibilities to prevent this by modulating the microbiota. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier number NCT05119218.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144727162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Alterations in intestinal and oral microbiota composition triggered by international travel.","authors":"G Kurlberg, Y Wettergren","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>colorectal cancer (CRC) rates are rising in developing countries like Nepal, though the incidence remains 5-10% of that in Europe. The human microbiota significantly influences CRC development, shaped by diet and lifestyle. Travelling abroad can alter microbial composition due to lifestyle adjustments. The study aimed to delineate the nature, extent, and pace of changes in intestinal and oral microbiota among Swedish residents after a two-month stay in Nepal, with a particular focus on changes associated with risk of CRC development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>eight study participants provided fecal and saliva samples before departing from Sweden, before departing from Nepal, as well as two and four weeks after returning to Sweden. The microbiota was analysed using deep sequencing with the Illumina MiSeq platform targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Denoising was performed using DADA2 to generate observational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition. Taxonomy annotation was conducted based on SILVA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>after the stay in Nepal, there was a rise in intestinal abundance of genus Escherichia-Shigella across all travellers. Two weeks after returning to Sweden, all but one traveller showed detectable Escherichia-Shigella levels, one exhibiting an exceptionally high amount (36.7%). Four weeks post-return, Escherichia-Shigella persisted in 50% of participants. Following sojourn in Nepal, travellers exhibited a reduction in oral abundance of families Fusobacteriaceae and Campylobacteraceae.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>when conducting microbiome studies, it is essential to consider the influence of international travel, as it can lead to substantial microbiota alterations. Identified microbiota changes could potentially be utilised as risk markers in future studies of CRC.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144727160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M-J Kim, J E Kim, M J Lee, H R Bae, E-Y Kwon, S-K Shin
{"title":"Lactobacillus paragasseri SBT2055 suppressed insulin resistance and fatty liver by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.","authors":"M-J Kim, J E Kim, M J Lee, H R Bae, E-Y Kwon, S-K Shin","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity-induced metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), are significant global health issues exacerbated by high-fat diets (HFD). These conditions often lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterised by hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which further impair insulin signalling. Probiotics, particularly those in the Lactobacillus genus, have been shown to ameliorate metabolic disorders. This study evaluated the antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of Lactobacillus paragasseri SBT2055 (LG2055), a sister taxon of L. gasseri, in HFD-induced obese mice. Mice supplemented with LG2055 (1 × 108 or 1 × 1010 CFU/mouse/day) exhibited significant reductions in body weight, fasting blood glucose, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values, alongside improved glucose tolerance and hepatic glycogen storage. LG2055 supplementation modulated the expression of genes involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis and intestinal glucose uptake, effectively suppressing insulin resistance. Hepatic lipid accumulation and liver weight were significantly reduced, accompanied by downregulation of lipogenic genes and proteins, while antioxidant enzyme activities {superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GR)} were enhanced, reducing oxidative stress markers. LG2055 also alleviated liver inflammation by decreasing plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and suppressing Toll-like receptor signalling, as well as reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related markers. These findings suggest that LG2055 mitigates HFD-induced metabolic disturbances by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing hepatic lipid synthesis, enhancing antioxidant defences, and attenuating inflammation. LG2055 demonstrates potential as a therapeutic probiotic for the prevention and treatment of T2DM and associated metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144727164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
H Gang, J Wei, L V McFarland, R Zahra, M E Saez, R Blanco-Rojo, M Millette
{"title":"Impact of Heyndrickxia (Bacillus) coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) probiotic on gastrointestinal function in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial.","authors":"H Gang, J Wei, L V McFarland, R Zahra, M E Saez, R Blanco-Rojo, M Millette","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many healthy people complain of functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract symptoms that do not fit diagnostic criteria for established diseases. Disrupted intestinal microbiomes are associated with these functional conditions, thus the use of beneficial bacteria shown to restore the protective microbiome may be useful. Our aims were to determine if Heyndrickxia (Bacillus) coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) would improve GI functions in healthy adults living in China and to determine its effect on the GI microbiome. Healthy adults ( n = 111, 18-65 years old) with functional GI complaints were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind trial and randomised (by random number table) to either BC30 (1 × 109/day) or placebo for four weeks. Outcomes were analysed by ANOVA or the Wilcoxon tests or with mixed regression models. Functional GI symptoms improved significantly in adults given BC30 compared to placebo: increase in number of stools/week ( P = 0.036), improved fecal consistency ( P < 0.001) and fewer participants had constipation ( P < 0.001). Four weeks of BC30 increased intestinal Bacteroides levels and reduced Clostridium, Blautia, Ruminococcus levels but did not otherwise alter the general microbiome. BC30 significantly improved GI functions in healthy adults in China, with minor modifications of the fecal microbiome and was well-tolerated. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06644001).</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144706126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
W Liu, J Wang, Y Xue, J Li, Y Huang, S Zhu, L Wang, G Wang, W Chen, J Zhao
{"title":"The impact of Bifidobacterium longum CCFM1112 on chronic constipation: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.","authors":"W Liu, J Wang, Y Xue, J Li, Y Huang, S Zhu, L Wang, G Wang, W Chen, J Zhao","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00085","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A mounting body of evidence suggests that probiotics may mitigate constipation through their favourable modulation of gut microbiota and its metabolic byproducts. The precise mechanisms underlying this effect remain to be fully elucidated. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigates the clinical efficacy of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) CCFM1112 in treating chronic constipation. Fifty-six volunteers diagnosed with chronic constipation according to the Rome IV criteria were randomly assigned to either the B. longum CCFM1112 group or a placebo group for a 4-week intervention. Key outcomes measured included weekly spontaneous bowel movements (SBM), stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale [BSFS]), Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire, and Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaire. In addition, gut microbiota was detected using metagenomic sequencing, and non targeted metabolomics was used to detect fecal and serum metabolites. Results demonstrated that B. longum CCFM1112 significantly reduced PAC-QOL scores and improved BSFS in patients with chronic constipation. Correlation analyses revealed that B. longum CCFM1112 significantly increased the abundance of the genera Blautia, Anaerobutyricum, and Streptococcus. Furthermore, the abundance of species, including Blautia massiliensis, Blautia sp. SC05B48, Anaerobutyricum hallii, and Streptococcus salivarius, was also significantly elevated. Furthermore, it elevated fecal levels of linoleic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and arachidonic acid, while increasing L-glutamic acid and decreasing adenosine in serum. Our research findings provide evidence that the intake of B. longum CCFM1112 can alleviate constipation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144688827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P Xu, U Mageswary, A A Nisaa, S D Balasubramaniam, S B Samsudin, N I B M Rusdi, A R A Jerip, C E Oon, M H A Bakar, D Rajendran, J J Tan, F F Roslan, S Sreenivasan, V Balakrishnan, S B Sany, C S Tan, M T Liong
{"title":"Corrigendum to: Probiotic reduces vaginal HPV abundance, improves immunity and quality of life in HPV-positive women: a randomised, placebo-controlled and double-blind study (DOI: 10.1163/18762891-bja00079).","authors":"P Xu, U Mageswary, A A Nisaa, S D Balasubramaniam, S B Samsudin, N I B M Rusdi, A R A Jerip, C E Oon, M H A Bakar, D Rajendran, J J Tan, F F Roslan, S Sreenivasan, V Balakrishnan, S B Sany, C S Tan, M T Liong","doi":"10.1163/18762891-20250001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-20250001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144688826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gut-breast axis modulation through Streptococcus thermophilus TCI633 supplementation: a study on mother-infant microbiome dynamics.","authors":"C-C Chen, T-Y Lin, W-K Wu, S Panyod, Y-K Lin, Y-H Lin, S-T Chan, M-S Wu, C-N Lee, C-F Chiang","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast milk provides essential nutrition and bioactive components, including probiotics, which contribute to the development of a balanced infant microbiota and a strengthened immune system. The gut-breast axis theory suggests that the maternal gut microbiota may influence the microbiota and composition of breast milk through immune-mediated signaling. This study aimed to investigate the colonization potential of S. thermophilus TCI633 in the infant gut and to explore its possible transfer via the gut-breast axis. A total of 30 exclusively breastfeeding mother-infant pairs were recruited. Mothers took TCI633 daily for one month following hospital discharge. Breast milk, maternal feces, and infant fecal samples were collected and analyzed for microbiota composition, S. thermophilus abundance, and detection of TCI633-specific gene fragments. Results showed minor changes in the microbiota composition of breast milk and fecal samples in the TCI633 group, with a slight increase in S. thermophilus abundance. Furthermore, TCI633-specific gene fragments were detected in 66.7% of infant fecal samples, suggesting potential microbial transfer and colonisation. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the feasibility of TCI633 transmission via the gut-breast axis, although further research is needed to determine its functional significance.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144558916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRa05 supplementation on the gut microbiota and metabolic health of alcohol-consuming individuals: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"Y Liu, J Wang, Y Gao, Z Wang, C Zhu, F Xu, Y Chen","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00083","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>this study explored the impact of BLa80 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis) and LRa05 (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus) on the gut microbiota composition and metabolic indicators of volunteers with alcohol-consuming habits.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>in this randomised, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed the impacts of a probiotic complex containing BLa80 and LRa05 (BLC) on the gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid levels in healthy participants. A total of 112 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo (maltodextrin) or the intervention (maltodextrin + BLC at 20 billion colony-forming units/day) for eight weeks. Gut microbiota alterations were monitored via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while fecal SCFAs were quantified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Key metabolic indicators, including ALT, AST, and uric acid, were also measured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>BLC intervention maintained the gut microbiota composition in participants with alcohol consumption habits, notably increasing the abundance of beneficial genera such as Blautia, Faecalibacterium, and Subdoligranulum. Significant alterations were observed in the levels of acetic acid, valeric acid, and total SCFAs, suggesting a favourable influence on gut health and metabolic function. Furthermore, BLC showed potential for improving serum uric acid levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>supplementation with BLC appears to beneficially modulate the composition of the gut microbiota, aiding in the management of alcohol-related gastrointestinal disturbances and dependency. These findings highlight BLC's potential as a therapeutic adjunct for alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis, offering a non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate metabolic risks and improve gut barrier integrity in individuals with chronic alcohol consumption. This intervention may significantly contribute to gut health improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144315850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of probiotics in the improvement of cognitive performance of older adults: a meta-analysis.","authors":"C Wiegers, S Doğan, M Metzelaar, O F A Larsen","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With our increasing lifespan comes an increasing prevalence of age-related neurological diseases, which are often difficult to treat. The gut-brain axis may provide opportunities for cognitive health improvement through gut microbiota-targeting interventions, such as probiotics. The aim of this meta-analysis is to determine the clinical potential of probiotics for the amelioration of cognitive functioning in older adults. Systematic searches were executed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to retrieve published records of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Records were assessed to fit the criteria of focusing on probiotic supplementation with cognitive functioning as the main outcome. After screening and assessment of 56 identified records, 20 RCTs were included for analysis. Reported means and standard deviations of cognitive test scores were used to calculate standardised mean differences (SMD) with a random effects model. Where applicable, blood concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines were taken as a secondary outcome. Based on the calculated SMDs it appears, overall, that supplementation of probiotics tends to have positive effects on both cognitive performance and reduction of inflammatory markers in older adults, albeit not significant (SMD [95%CI] = 0.19 [-0.13, 0.52] for cognitive performance, and SMD [95%CI] = -0.44 [-0.94, 0.06] for inflammation). The set of RCTs studied here is characterised by high heterogeneity, preventing the determination of a true overall effect size.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144246234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A LeMoire, R Replogle, L Shinn, A Kamil, L Lin, A P Kuttenkeuler, J Baisley, J Wang, S-A Girard, S Recker, A Bier
{"title":"Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 improves stool characteristics in healthy adults with infrequent bowel movements: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"A LeMoire, R Replogle, L Shinn, A Kamil, L Lin, A P Kuttenkeuler, J Baisley, J Wang, S-A Girard, S Recker, A Bier","doi":"10.1163/18762891-bja00072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/18762891-bja00072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Digestive health issues, including irregular bowel movements (BM) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, affect millions of people in the United States and are associated with higher risks of various diseases. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the potential of Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 to improve stool characteristics and reduce GI symptoms. Following a 2-week run-in, 144 healthy adults were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either B. coagulans Unique IS2 (2 billion colony forming units/day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Participants were included if they had an average weekly complete spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) of ≥3.0 and <7.0 during the run-in. The primary outcome was the change in BM frequency after 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included change in stool consistency (assessed by the Bristol Stool Form Scale), GI symptoms and quality of life, gut microbiota composition, and the proportion of complete SBM to total BM. Safety was assessed by vital signs and reports of adverse events. After 4 weeks of supplementation with Unique IS2, there was a significant increase in BM frequency ( P = 0.037). Stool consistency significantly improved after each week in the Unique IS2 group (all P < 0.05) and was significantly improved compared to a placebo after 4 weeks ( P = 0.018), driven by a significant improvement in the incidence of hard stool ( P = 0.001). There was no effect of Unique IS2 supplementation on GI symptoms and quality of life (Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index), gut microbiota composition (analysis of stool samples by 16S rRNA), or proportion of complete SBM to total BM. Unique IS2 was safe and well tolerated over the 4 weeks of supplementation. Our results suggest that B. coagulans Unique IS2 is a promising strategy to improve stool characteristics of individuals with hard stools and poor stool quality. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT05123664.</p>","PeriodicalId":8834,"journal":{"name":"Beneficial microbes","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144207537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}