Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Research on effects of synbiotics in older adults with functional constipation (FC) is limited. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated a 4-week synbiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and fructooligosaccharides [FOS]) intervention in 67 participants ≥60 yea...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meina Li, Qi Zhang, Wen Zhao, Juan Chen, Yinghua Liu, Limian Zhou, Yihui Liu, Langrun Wang, Yiran Guan, Jian He, Qiuyue Jiang, Zhaozhong Zeng, Xinmei Guo, Can Liu, Liwei Zhang, Yong Zhang, Jie Luo, Wei-Lian Hung, Jingjing He, Ran Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S127977072500123X
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849722137430982656
author Meina Li
Qi Zhang
Wen Zhao
Juan Chen
Yinghua Liu
Limian Zhou
Yihui Liu
Langrun Wang
Yiran Guan
Jian He
Qiuyue Jiang
Zhaozhong Zeng
Xinmei Guo
Can Liu
Liwei Zhang
Yong Zhang
Jie Luo
Wei-Lian Hung
Jingjing He
Ran Wang
author_facet Meina Li
Qi Zhang
Wen Zhao
Juan Chen
Yinghua Liu
Limian Zhou
Yihui Liu
Langrun Wang
Yiran Guan
Jian He
Qiuyue Jiang
Zhaozhong Zeng
Xinmei Guo
Can Liu
Liwei Zhang
Yong Zhang
Jie Luo
Wei-Lian Hung
Jingjing He
Ran Wang
author_sort Meina Li
collection DOAJ
description Research on effects of synbiotics in older adults with functional constipation (FC) is limited. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated a 4-week synbiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and fructooligosaccharides [FOS]) intervention in 67 participants ≥60 years old meeting Rome IV FC criteria. Compared to placebo, the synbiotic group showed significant improvements in weekly spontaneous bowel movements (Least squares mean ± standard error: 4.94 ± 0.25 vs. 3.00 ± 0.26, P < 0.001) and whole gut transit time (37.13 ± 3.78 vs. 50.64 ± 4.22 h, P = 0.019), with benefits sustained 2 weeks post-intervention. It also reduced time per toilet attempt and alleviated rectal discomfort symptoms more effectively than placebo. Fecal microbiome analysis revealed increased abundance of beneficial Bifidobacterium species, correlating with symptom improvement (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that BL-99/FOS supplementation ameliorates FC symptoms in older adults, with effects sustained post-discontinuation, potentially mediated through gut microbiota modulation. Further mechanistic investigation is warranted.
format Article
id doaj-art-8d9710156ff844eda47093c3cc0464db
institution DOAJ
issn 1760-4788
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
spelling doaj-art-8d9710156ff844eda47093c3cc0464db2025-08-20T03:11:26ZengElsevierThe Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging1760-47882025-08-0129810059810.1016/j.jnha.2025.100598Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialMeina Li0Qi Zhang1Wen Zhao2Juan Chen3Yinghua Liu4Limian Zhou5Yihui Liu6Langrun Wang7Yiran Guan8Jian He9Qiuyue Jiang10Zhaozhong Zeng11Xinmei Guo12Can Liu13Liwei Zhang14Yong Zhang15Jie Luo16Wei-Lian Hung17Jingjing He18Ran Wang19Department of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaNational Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy, Hohhot, ChinaInner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., LTD, ChinaInner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co., LTD, ChinaAnhui Jinqiao Biotechnology Co., LTD, ChinaAnhui Jinqiao Biotechnology Co., LTD, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, ChinaNational Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy, Hohhot, China; Corresponding authors.Research Center for Probiotics, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Corresponding authors.Department of Nutrition and Health, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Co-constructed by Ministry of Education and Beijing Government, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Corresponding authors.Research on effects of synbiotics in older adults with functional constipation (FC) is limited. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated a 4-week synbiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and fructooligosaccharides [FOS]) intervention in 67 participants ≥60 years old meeting Rome IV FC criteria. Compared to placebo, the synbiotic group showed significant improvements in weekly spontaneous bowel movements (Least squares mean ± standard error: 4.94 ± 0.25 vs. 3.00 ± 0.26, P < 0.001) and whole gut transit time (37.13 ± 3.78 vs. 50.64 ± 4.22 h, P = 0.019), with benefits sustained 2 weeks post-intervention. It also reduced time per toilet attempt and alleviated rectal discomfort symptoms more effectively than placebo. Fecal microbiome analysis revealed increased abundance of beneficial Bifidobacterium species, correlating with symptom improvement (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that BL-99/FOS supplementation ameliorates FC symptoms in older adults, with effects sustained post-discontinuation, potentially mediated through gut microbiota modulation. Further mechanistic investigation is warranted.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S127977072500123XSynbioticsProbioticsFunctional constipationOlder adultsGut Microbiota
spellingShingle Meina Li
Qi Zhang
Wen Zhao
Juan Chen
Yinghua Liu
Limian Zhou
Yihui Liu
Langrun Wang
Yiran Guan
Jian He
Qiuyue Jiang
Zhaozhong Zeng
Xinmei Guo
Can Liu
Liwei Zhang
Yong Zhang
Jie Luo
Wei-Lian Hung
Jingjing He
Ran Wang
Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
Synbiotics
Probiotics
Functional constipation
Older adults
Gut Microbiota
title Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
title_full Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
title_short Effects and Persistence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 and Fructooligosaccharides on Older Adults with Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
title_sort effects and persistence of bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis bl 99 and fructooligosaccharides on older adults with functional constipation a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial
topic Synbiotics
Probiotics
Functional constipation
Older adults
Gut Microbiota
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S127977072500123X
work_keys_str_mv AT meinali effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT qizhang effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT wenzhao effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT juanchen effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT yinghualiu effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT limianzhou effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT yihuiliu effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT langrunwang effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT yiranguan effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT jianhe effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT qiuyuejiang effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT zhaozhongzeng effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT xinmeiguo effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT canliu effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT liweizhang effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT yongzhang effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT jieluo effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT weilianhung effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT jingjinghe effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial
AT ranwang effectsandpersistenceofbifidobacteriumanimalissubsplactisbl99andfructooligosaccharidesonolderadultswithfunctionalconstipationarandomizeddoubleblindplacebocontrolledtrial