Effect of a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173010 on Chinese constipated women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173010 and yogurt strains (BIO(R)) on adult women with constipation in Beijing.


METHODS
A total of 135 adult females with constipation were randomly allocated to consume for 2 wk either 100 g of the test fermented milk or 100 g of an acidified milk containing non-living bacteria (control). Stool frequency, defecation condition scores, stool consistency and food intake were recorded at baseline and after 1 and 2 wk in an intention-to-treat population of 126 subjects. In parallel, safety evaluation parameters were performed.


RESULTS
At baseline, no differences were found between groups. Following consumption of test product, stool frequency was significantly increased after 1 wk (3.5 +/- 1.5 vs 2.4 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01) and 2 wk (4.1 +/- 1.7 vs 2.4 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01), vs baseline. Similarly, after 1 and 2 wk, of test product consumption, defecation condition (1.1 +/- 0.9 vs 1.9 +/- 1.2, P < 0.01 and 0.8 +/- 1.0 vs 1.9 +/- 1.2, P < 0.01, respectively) and stool consistency (1.0 +/- 0.8 vs 1.5 +/- 1.1, P < 0.01 and 0.6 +/- 0.8 vs 1.5 +/- 1.1, P < 0.01, respectively) were significantly improved. Compared with the control group, stool frequency was also significantly increased (3.5 +/- 1.5 vs 2.5 +/- 0.9, P < 0.01 and 4.1 +/- 1.7 vs 2.6 +/- 1.0, P < 0.01, respectively), and defecation condition (1.1 +/- 0.9 vs 1.6 +/- 1.1, P < 0.01 and 0.8 +/- 1.0 vs 1.6 +/- 1.1, P < 0.01, respectively) and stool consistency (1.0 +/- 0.8 vs 1.4 +/- 1.0, P < 0.05 and 0.6 +/- 0.8 vs 1.3 +/- 1.0, P < 0.01, respectively) significantly decreased after 1 and 2 wk of product consumption. During the same period, food intake did not change between the two groups, and safety parameters of the subjects were within normal ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests a beneficial effect of a fermented milk containing B. lactis DN-173010 on stool frequency, defecation condition and stool consistency in adult women with constipation constipated women after 1 and 2 wk of consumption.
Yang
Yue-Xin
YX
Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, China CDC, No. 29, Nanwei Road, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100050, China.
He
Mei
M
Hu
Gang
G
Wei
Jie
J
Pages
Philippe
P
Yang
Xian-Hua
XH
Bourdu-Naturel
Sophie
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002681:China; D003248:Constipation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003672:Defecation; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015014:Yogurt / Q000382:microbiology*