Effect of yogurt containing polydextrose, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis HN019: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study in chronic constipation.

2014-07-24
Nutrition journal 13(1)
- Daniéla Oliveira Magro
- Lais Mariana R de Oliveira
- Isabela Bernasconi
- Marilia de Souza Ruela
- Laura Credidio
- Irene K Barcelos
- Raquel F Leal
- Maria de Lourdes Stesuko Ayrizono
- João José Fagundes
- Leandro de B Teixeira
- Arthur C Ouwehand
- Claudio S R Coy

PubMed: 25056655
DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-13-75

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: patients with constipation
Methods: randomly divided into two groups, Control Group (CG) and Treatment Group (TG), and had to eat 180 ml of unflavored yogurt every morning for 14 days. Those in the CG received only yogurt, while the TG received yogurt containing polydextrose, L. acidophilus NCFM and B. lactis HN019
Blinding: Open-label
Duration: 14 days

Background

Constipation is a frequent complaint and the combination of a prebiotic and probiotics could have a potentially synergic effect on the intestinal transit. The present study therefore aims to investigate the combination of polydextrose (Litesse), L. acidophilus NCFM® and B. lactis HN019 in a yogurt on intestinal transit in subjects who suffer from constipation.

Methods

Patients with constipation were randomly divided into two groups, Control Group (CG) and Treatment Group (TG), and had to eat 180 ml of unflavored yogurt every morning for 14 days. Those in the CG received only yogurt, while the TG received yogurt containing polydextrose, L. acidophilus NCFM (ATCC 700396) and B. lactis HN019 (AGAL NM97/09513).

Results

Favourable clinical response was assessed since Agachan score had a significant reduction at the end of the study in both groups and tended to be better in the TG. The subjects in the treatment group also had a shorter transit time at the end of the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The product containing yogurt with polydextrose, B. lactis HN019 and L. acidophilus NCFM® significantly shortened colonic transit time after two weeks in the TG compared to CG and may be an option for treatment of constipation.

Research Insights

Bifidobacterium lactis HN019→Reduced Constipation Severity
Favourable clinical response was assessed since Agachan score had a significant reduction at the end of the study in both groups and tended to be better in the TG.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Bifidobacterium lactis HN019→Reduced Transit Time
The subjects in the treatment group also had a shorter transit time at the end of the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.01).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM→Reduced Constipation Severity
Favourable clinical response was assessed since Agachan score had a significant reduction at the end of the study in both groups and tended to be better in the TG.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM→Reduced Transit Time
The subjects in the treatment group also had a shorter transit time at the end of the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.01).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small