Fermented cereal with specific bifidobacteria normalizes bowel movements in elderly nursing home residents. A randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess how fermented oat drink with two selected Bifidobacterium longum strains influences bowel movements among elderly nursing home residents.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
12 wards in two nursing homes in Finland.


METHODS
209 residents.


METHODS
Wards were randomized to receive daily a fermented oat drink with 1) 109 CFU/day Bifidobacterium longum strains or 2) 109 CFU/day Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 or 3) without viable bacteria (placebo) for 7 months.


METHODS
Regularity of bowel movements (no movements or functioning) and consistency of stools (normal, soft or diarrhoea) were recorded for each resident on a daily basis.


RESULTS
The fermented oat drinks were well taken by the subjects, compliance being 85%. The groups receiving active products had more frequent bowel movements than did the placebo group (B. longum group normal functioning 28.5% of follow-up days, B.lactis group 26.9%, and placebo group 20.0%, respectively). The differences between the B. longum and the placebo group (mean 7.1, 95% CI 2.3 - 11.9, p=0.004) and between the B.lactis group and the placebo (mean 6.7, 95% CI 2.5 - 10.9, p = 0.002) were significant even when diarrhoea and constipation in the 3 months prior to the study were used as covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to normalize bowel movements in frail nursing home.
Pitkala
K H
KH
K.H. Pitkala, Helsinki University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Clinics of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Po Box 340, Fin-00029 HUS, Finland. kaisu.pitkala@kolumbus.fi
Strandberg
T E
TE
Finne Soveri
U H
UH
Ouwehand
A C
AC
Poussa
T
T
Salminen
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001628:Beverages; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000502:physiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome