New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective

Constipation is a common problem which often causes negative impacts on the patient’s quality of life. Apart from the pharmacologic and diet approaches, the use of probiotics has gradually shown promising efficacy to alleviate constipation. However, an exact understanding of the underlying mechanism...

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Main Authors: Ni Wang, Peng Wu, Xiao Dong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1335
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author Ni Wang
Peng Wu
Xiao Dong Chen
author_facet Ni Wang
Peng Wu
Xiao Dong Chen
author_sort Ni Wang
collection DOAJ
description Constipation is a common problem which often causes negative impacts on the patient’s quality of life. Apart from the pharmacologic and diet approaches, the use of probiotics has gradually shown promising efficacy to alleviate constipation. However, an exact understanding of the underlying mechanisms of probiotic actions on alleviating constipation is still unclear and need to be explored. In this review, we propose a model, ‘probiotics in human colon’, from a bioprocess engineering perspective. This model can be interpreted as a new concept of bionic colonic bioreactor design of a human colon in vitro, in which the transport phenomena during the fermentation of chyme by probiotics can be detected. By reviewing the anatomy structure and peristalsis mode of the human colon, we have focused on the influence by probiotics on the physical properties of colonic contents during the fermentation process. We relate physical properties such as shape, water content, density, hardness, viscosity, and elasticity to constipation symptoms directly. The influences on the physical properties of colon contents triggered by probiotics can be a potential key to understand the mechanisms for alleviating constipation.
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spelling doaj-art-bbae8f8026fe458a89813b77dcd034852025-08-20T02:17:20ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-04-01148133510.3390/foods14081335New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering PerspectiveNi Wang0Peng Wu1Xiao Dong Chen2Life Quality Engineering Interest Group, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, ChinaLife Quality Engineering Interest Group, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, ChinaLife Quality Engineering Interest Group, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, ChinaConstipation is a common problem which often causes negative impacts on the patient’s quality of life. Apart from the pharmacologic and diet approaches, the use of probiotics has gradually shown promising efficacy to alleviate constipation. However, an exact understanding of the underlying mechanisms of probiotic actions on alleviating constipation is still unclear and need to be explored. In this review, we propose a model, ‘probiotics in human colon’, from a bioprocess engineering perspective. This model can be interpreted as a new concept of bionic colonic bioreactor design of a human colon in vitro, in which the transport phenomena during the fermentation of chyme by probiotics can be detected. By reviewing the anatomy structure and peristalsis mode of the human colon, we have focused on the influence by probiotics on the physical properties of colonic contents during the fermentation process. We relate physical properties such as shape, water content, density, hardness, viscosity, and elasticity to constipation symptoms directly. The influences on the physical properties of colon contents triggered by probiotics can be a potential key to understand the mechanisms for alleviating constipation.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1335probioticsbionic colonic bioreactorbioprocess engineering perspectivephysical propertyconstipation
spellingShingle Ni Wang
Peng Wu
Xiao Dong Chen
New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective
Foods
probiotics
bionic colonic bioreactor
bioprocess engineering perspective
physical property
constipation
title New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective
title_full New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective
title_fullStr New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective
title_full_unstemmed New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective
title_short New Insights into a Conceptual Bionic Colonic Bioreactor: A Model, ‘Probiotics in Human Colon’, Showing How Probiotics Alleviate Constipation from a Bioprocess Engineering Perspective
title_sort new insights into a conceptual bionic colonic bioreactor a model probiotics in human colon showing how probiotics alleviate constipation from a bioprocess engineering perspective
topic probiotics
bionic colonic bioreactor
bioprocess engineering perspective
physical property
constipation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/8/1335
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AT xiaodongchen newinsightsintoaconceptualbioniccolonicbioreactoramodelprobioticsinhumancolonshowinghowprobioticsalleviateconstipationfromabioprocessengineeringperspective