title: Effects of the continuous intake of a milk drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on abdominal symptoms, fecal microbiota, and metabolites in gastrectomized subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article is based on our previously reported results of irregular bowel movement and disturbances of the intestinal microbiota/environment in gastrectomized patients. A placebo-controlled, double-blind comparative study was carried out to evaluate the effects of a fermented milk beverage containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) in such patients. The major evaluated factors of this article were "bowel movement" and "quality of life." The secondary evaluated factors were "fecal microbiota" and "enteric environment."
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 190 gastrectomized subjects who participated in our previously reported defecation survey, 134 subjects judged as having abnormal defecation gave consent to participate in this study. These subjects continuously ingested the test beverage containing 40 billion LcS or placebo (one bottle per day, 4 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the LcS-ingested group, among the 118 subjects who completed the tests, the assessments of the subjects were based on their division into groups based on their symptoms with our scoring system for constipation/diarrhea; although there was no significant ingestion effect in total, in the constipation group, LcS reduced the degree of constipation compared with that in the placebo group. In the diarrhea group, LcS ingestion improved diarrhea compared with that in the preingestion state. Fecal Staphylococcus level was decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest the possibility that the continuous consumption of LcS-fermented milk relieves irregular bowel movement in gastrectomized patients.
authors.affiliation: Jikei University, School of Medicine , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Teruaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asahara
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chonan
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamori
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamaji
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hisamoto
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003408:Cresols / Q000032:analysis; D003672:Defecation; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human; D019800:Phenol / Q000032:analysis; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D003408:Cresols; D007211:Indoles; C032538:4-cresol; D019800:Phenol; D000641:Ammonia