Bacillus coagulans (PROBACI) in treating constipation-dominant functional bowel disorders.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology
• Human Microbiome

Background:

• Functional bowel disorders (FBDs) affect a significant portion of the population, causing debilitating symptoms.
• Probiotics, such as Bacillus coagulans, are increasingly explored for their potential to modulate gut health and alleviate FBD symptoms.
• Existing research on Bacillus coagulans efficacy in FBDs requires further elucidation, particularly concerning specific symptom profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Bacillus coagulans (PROBACI) on a range of functional bowel symptoms in patients with FBDs.
• To assess the impact of PROBACI on abdominal pain, distention, defecation characteristics, and overall patient assessment.
• To analyze changes in gut microbiota composition, specifically the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, following PROBACI administration.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study involving 38 patients diagnosed with functional bowel disorders.
• Patients received a 300-mg formulation of PROBACI (containing 1 × 10^9 CFU of B. coagulans) twice daily for 4 weeks.
• Symptom severity was measured using visual analog scales, and defecation patterns were recorded. Gut microbiota analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in abdominal pain (P=.0009), abdominal distention (P=.0002), and global assessment (P=.0001) within 14 days of PROBACI treatment.
• Patients in the constipation-dominant group showed greater improvements in defecation discomfort (P=.02) and normalization of defecation style (P=.007) compared to the diarrhea-dominant group by day 28.
• While a difference in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was noted between constipation- and diarrhea-dominant groups, it did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

• Bacillus coagulans (PROBACI) effectively alleviates key symptoms associated with functional bowel disorders, including abdominal pain and distention.
• PROBACI demonstrates a notable benefit in improving defecation comfort and regularity, with enhanced efficacy observed in patients with constipation-predominant symptoms.
• The findings support the use of Bacillus coagulans as a potential therapeutic agent for managing functional bowel disorders, contributing to improved gut health and patient well-being.