title: Effects of Enteric-coated Lactoferrin Tablets Containing Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans on Fecal Properties, Defecation Frequency and Intestinal Microbiota of Japanese Women with a Tendency for Constipation: a Randomized Placebo-controlled Crossover Study.
abstract: The effects of oral administration of enteric-coated tablets containing lactoferrin (LF; 100 mg/tablet) and heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans FREM BP-4693 (LB; 6×10(9) bacteria/tablet) on fecal properties were examined in 32 Japanese women (20-60 years of age) with a tendency for constipation (defecation frequency at equal to or less than 10 times/2 weeks) by a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design. A significant increase in defecation days per week was obserbed in the subjects who ingested the tablets containing LF and LB compared with the placebo group. The number of bifidobacteria in feces also significantly increased compared with the placebo group. In an in vitro study, LF and tryptic hydrolysate of LF, but not peptic hydrolysate of LF, upregulated the growth of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC15707 when added to the culture. These results demonstrate the capability of the enteric-coated tablets containing LF and LB in improving intestinal function and suggest that they have a growth promoting function for bifidobacteria.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan ; Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyou-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakoshi
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan.
authors.forename: Misao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Totsuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan ; Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Nojihigashi 1-1-1, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Keikichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyou-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan ; Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Nojihigashi 1-1-1, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Hoyoku
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation, Tajima 100, Odawara, Kanagawa 256-0811, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iida
keywords: Lactobacillus brevis subsp. coagulans; double-blind placebo-controlled trial; enteric-coated tablets; intestinal microbiota; lactoferrin; probiotics