Background & Aims: Probiotics and synbiotics have been increasingly investigated for the management of chronic constipation. We aimed to investigate the effect of probiotics and synbiotics on stool output, gut transit time, symptoms and quality of life in adults with chronic constipation via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Methods: Studies were identified using electronic databases, backward citation and hand-searching abstracts. The search date was 10 July 2022. RCTs reporting administration of probiotics or synbiotics in adults with chronic constipation were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted separately for probiotics and synbiotics. Results were synthesized using risk ratios (RRs), mean differences or standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model.
Results: Thirty RCTs investigating probiotics and four RCTs investigating synbiotics were included. Overall, 369/647 (57%) responded to probiotic treatment and 252/567 (44%) to control (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07, 1.52, p = 0.007). Probiotics increased stool frequency (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.37, 1.04, p < 0.00001), with Bifidobacterium lactis having a significant effect, but not mixtures of probiotics, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 or Lactobacillus casei Shirota. Probiotics did not impact stool consistency (SMD 0.26, 95% CI -0.03, 0.54, p = 0.08). Probiotics improved integrative symptom scores compared to control (SMD -0.46, 95% CI -0.89, -0.04). Synbiotics did not impact stool output or integrative symptom scores compared to control.
Conclusions: Certain probiotics may improve response to treatment, stool frequency and integrative constipation symptoms, providing cautious optimism for their use as a dietary management option. There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend synbiotics in the management of chronic constipation. Caution is needed when interpreting these results due to high heterogeneity and risk of bias amongst the studies.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2022.10.015 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The role of intestinal flora in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and treatment strategies.
Front Med (Lausanne)
January 2025
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Zibo Hospital, Zibo, China.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a common multi-factorial liver disease, and its incidence is gradually increasing worldwide. Many reports have revealed that intestinal flora plays a crucial role for the occurrence and development of MASLD, through mechanisms such as flora translocation, endogenous ethanol production, dysregulation of choline metabolism and bile acid, and endotoxemia. Here, we review the relationship between intestinal flora and MASLD, as well as interventions for MASLD, such as prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and intestinal flora transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of gut microbiome-targeted therapies in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Front Nutr
January 2025
Department of Spleen, Stomach, Hepatobiliary Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China.
Background: The incidence of NAFLD is increasing. Preclinical evidences indicate that modulation of the gut microbiome could be a promising target in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Method: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effect of probiotics, synbiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplant, and antibiotics on the liver-enzyme, metabolic effects and liver-specific in patients with NAFLD.
A comprehensive review of probiotics and human health-current prospective and applications.
Front Microbiol
January 2025
Department of Technologies for Organic Synthesis, Institute of Chemical Technology, Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
The beneficial properties of probiotics have always been a point of interest. Probiotics play a major role in maintaining the health of Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT), a healthy digestive system is responsible for modulating all other functions of the body. The effectiveness of probiotics can be enhanced by formulating them with prebiotics the formulation thus formed is referred to as synbiotics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparative transcriptomic analysis reveals a potential link between sugar transporters and the diauxic growth of Weissella paramesenteroides YT175 on inulin.
Int J Biol Macromol
January 2025
College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, Sichuan, China.
Inulin, a health-promoting dietary fiber, is efficiently metabolized by Weissella paramesenteroides YT175, a beneficial bacterium. The strain demonstrated a diauxic growth pattern within 48 h, reaching an optical density at 600 nm (OD) of approximately 1.5, accompanied by a significant decrease in pH to around 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring the Potential Use of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics as Adjuvants for Modulating the Vaginal Microbiome: a Bibliometric Review.
Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins
January 2025
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Women's health is related to several factors that include physical, mental, and reproductive health. Additionally, the vaginal microbiota modulation performs a fundamental role in the regulation of physiological homeostasis and dysbiosis, which provides us a potential overview of the use of different biotic agents and their implications for female health. The objective of this work was propitiated insights and conception about the influence of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as adjuvants for prevention/treatment on the main infections that can affect women's health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!