Probiotic Blend May Improve Constipation and Mental Well-Being in Older Adults: Study

A probiotic marketed by Kaneka Probiotics and AB-Biotics as Innerim, and also known as KABP Mature Immune Defense, appeared to improve constipation and measures of stress relief in a clinical study on older adults. The findings, published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, add to previous research demonstrating the probiotic blend’s role in supporting other measures of gastrointestinal health, immunity, and quality of life in older people.

“The metabolic and physiological processes that drive digestion slow down with age, which means that altered bowel function, including constipation, is a common health concern for older or elderly people,” said Maria Rodriguez-Palmero Seuma, PhD, medical director at AB-BIOTICS and co-author of the study. “This can have negative impacts on the quality of life for many older adults and put strain on both social and healthcare systems.  Many of these consumers are dissatisfied with the over-the-counter remedies that are currently available to help them manage their constipation, since solutions such as laxatives and fiber supplements often provide unpredictable and incomplete relief from symptoms.  As the findings of this new study demonstrate, probiotics such as our Innerim blend, offer an attractive, safe, and effective alternative for older people managing altered bowel habits.”

In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers recruited 70 healthy adults between the ages of 50 and 80 who experienced straining during defecation and hard stool consistency. The participants received either a daily dose of the two probiotic strains (L. plantarum KABP 031 and L. plantarum KABP 032) per day or a placebo, for 84 days. All participants also took a daily multivitamin and kept a diary to track bowel habits and levels of stress and well-being, with diary data collected and analyzed at baseline, 42 days, and 84 days.

Those in the probiotic group had increases in bowel movement frequency by 2.08 ± 2.52 and 2.07 ± 2.93 movements per week on days 42 and 84, respectively, which was significantly improved compared to the placebo group by day 42, which saw no improvements in stool consistency. Further, by day 42, the probiotic group experienced a significant decrease in the amount of bowel movements per week that were classed as constipation.

Stress levels were also measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, as emerging evidence suggests that stress can negatively impact the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota, and probiotic supplementation has been reported to improve perceived stress scores.

In the current study, probiotic supplementation led to significant improvements in PSS scores by day 84, and the proportion of participants in the probiotic group with moderate stress scores was significantly lower than in the placebo group (9.4% versus 37.9%).

“There is a growing body of evidence to show how the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KABP 031 and KABP 032 probiotic blend can support consumers over the age of 50 across multiple aspects of health and wellbeing,” said Rodriguez-Palermo Seuma. “The blend has previously been shown to improve gastrointestinal transit and nutritional status in elderly adults. What’s more, another clinical trial found that supplementation with this mixture enhanced systemic immunity, with the potential to support vaccination responses in the elderly, further emphasizing its precision targeting for elderly populations. We’re excited to continue building on this science and supporting healthy aging for older adults.”