title: Probiotic-enriched foods and dietary supplement containing SYNBIO positively affects bowel habits in healthy adults: an assessment using standard statistical analysis and Support Vector Machines.
abstract: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study assessed in healthy adults how daily consumption of the probiotic combination SYNBIO®, administered in probiotic-enriched foods or in a dietary supplement, affected bowel habits. Primary and secondary outcomes gave the overall assessment of bowel well-being, while a Psychological General Well-Being Index compiled by participants estimated the health-related quality of life as well as the gastrointestinal tolerance determined with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. Support Vector Machine models for classification problems were used to validate the total outcomes on bowel well-being. SYNBIO® consumption improved bowel habits of volunteers consuming the probiotic foods or capsules, while the same effects were not registered in the control groups. The recovery of probiotic bacteria from the faeces of a cohort of 100 subjects for each supplemented group showed the persistence of strains in the gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino , Camerino , Italy .
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvi
authors.forename: M Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verdenelli
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: M Magdalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Coman
authors.forename: M Simonetta
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bernabei
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Leone
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orpianesi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cresci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D003248:Constipation / Q000517:prevention & control; D003672:Defecation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000382:microbiology; D006184:Habits; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007778:Lactobacillus; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D060388:Support Vector Machine
keywords: L. paracasei IMC 502; L. rhamnosus IMC 501; Support Vector Machines; probiotic dietary supplement; probiotic functional foods