Effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 on functional constipation symptoms and gut microbiota in children

We aimed to evaluate the effects of a probiotic preparation containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 on the improvement of clinical symptoms and gut microbiota in children with Functional Constipation (FC).

This 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assigned 6 to 36-month-old children with FC to supplementation with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 (intervention group, n = 77) or maltodextrin supplementation (control group, n = 77). An electronic questionnaire was used to obtain the defecation status, and 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to extract the characteristics of gut microbiota. The primary outcomes were treatment success rate (defined as average of ≥3 spontaneous stools movements per week), weekly defecation frequency, and stool hardness. The secondary outcomes included constipation-related symptoms and changes in the gut microbiota. The analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis.

After the intervention, the treatment success rate in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (83.1% vs. 63.6%, P = 0.006). The intervention group demonstrated significantly higher weekly defecation frequency (4.99 ± 2.88 vs. 3.71 ± 2.86, P = 0.002) and Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) scores (3.75 ± 1.04 vs. 2.99 ± 1.17, P = 0.002) compared to the control group. There were significant differences in the gut microbiota, and the intervention group had a higher diversity of gut microbiota Alpha (P = 0.047) and a higher relative abundance of Lacticaseibacillus, Bifidobacteriaceae, Parabacteroides_B_862066; while Erysipelatoclostridium and Eggerthella had lower relative abundance.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 can effectively improve some constipation symptoms and gut microbiota structure in children with FC.

This is the first study to evaluate the effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 on Functional Constipation (FC) in children under 3 years old. The study shows that probiotics containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 can improve some clinical symptoms and gut microbiota structure in children with FC. The positive results of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MP108 intervention provide new insights for the treatment of FC in children.