Efficacy of Probiotic Supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains on Gastrointestinal Tract Function - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in older adults may be associated with gut microbiota activity or composition changes. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains KABP031 and KABP032 have been shown to beneficially influence the frequency of bowel movements (BMs) and nutritional status in older adults. This study investigated the efficacy of this probiotic blend on defecation/stool consistency, GI symptoms, nutrient uptake, and mental well-being in older adults with occasional constipation. Subjects 50-85 years of age with infrequent BMs, straining during defecation and hard stool consistency, were randomized to either the Probiotic or Placebo group for 84 days. Changes in bowel function, GI symptoms, and stress were assessed by the daily bowel habits diary, Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), respectively. Improvements in bowel movement frequency (p = 0.027, 95% CI: 0.22-2.39) and stool consistency (p = 0.002; 95% CI: 0.32-1.30) with the Probiotic were significantly greater compared to Placebo after 42 days. There was also significant decrease in the percentage of weekly BMs with a Bristol Stool Scale score of ≤2 with Probiotic vs. Placebo (-28.6% vs. -3.2%, p < 0.001). A significantly lower proportion of participants in the Probiotic group reported moderate stress following 84 days of supplementation compared to the Placebo group (9.4% vs. 37.9%, p = 0.013). Further, within-group significant improvements in stool consistency and BM frequency from baseline at days 42 and 84 were observed with the Probiotic (p < 0.001), but not the Placebo. The findings suggest the probiotic blend alleviated constipation symptoms and improved the mental well-being in older adults with occasional constipation.

Clinical trial registry number and website: NCT04147923; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04147923.