Plain language summary
Chronic constipation is one of the main obstacles to healthy longevity. In recent years, reports using next-generation sequencing have shown that the amount of bifidobacteria is reduced in the stools of elderly individuals. The relationship between chronic constipation and gut microbiota has attracted attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Bifidobacterium longum (BB536) on constipation and abdominal symptoms in elderly patients with chronic constipation. This study is a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial with two arms. Participants (n=80) were randomly assigned to the probiotic (n=39) or placebo (control n=41) group. Each participant consumed 1 probiotic or placebo sachet daily for 4 weeks and was asked to participate in 4 weeks of post-observation. Results show an improvement in the patients’ bowel movements and upper abdominal symptoms after 4 weeks of BB536 intake compared with the placebo group. Furthermore, some of the improved symptoms were maintained even 4 weeks after stopping the probiotics. Authors conclude that the probiotic therapy used in their study had very few adverse effects suggesting the safety and usefulness of taking BB536 for chronic constipation in elderly individuals.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few reports exist regarding the therapeutic effects of probiotics on chronic constipation in elderly individuals. This study evaluated the effects of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in elderly individuals with chronic constipation. METHODS This was a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, parallel-group superiority trial in Japan (UMIN 000033031). Eighty older adults diagnosed with chronic constipation were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either probiotics ( B. longum BB536, 5 × 10 10 colony-forming unit, n = 39) or placebo (n = 41) once daily for up to 4 weeks. The severity of constipation was evaluated using the Constipation Scoring System. The primary end point was the difference in the changes from baseline in the constipation scoring system total score between the 2 groups at week 4. RESULTS A total of 79 patients (mean age of 77.9 years), including 38 patients in the BB536 group and 41 in the placebo group, completed the study. The primary end point was not significant ( P = 0.074), although there was significant improvement ( P < 0.01) in the BB536 group from baseline to week 4, but there were no significant changes in the placebo group. There was a significant difference and a tendency toward a difference in the changes from baseline on the stool frequency ( P = 0.008) and failure of evacuation ( P = 0.051) subscales, respectively, at week 4 between the 2 groups. Few adverse events related to the probiotics were observed. DISCUSSION The primary end points were not significant. However, probiotic supplementation significantly improved bowel movements. These results suggest that B. longum BB536 supplementation is safe and partially effective for improving chronic constipation in elderly individuals.
Methodological quality
Jadad score
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4
Allocation concealment
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Yes
