title: Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 decreases stress-associated diarrhoea-related symptoms and self-reported stress: a secondary analysis of a randomised trial.
abstract: Psychological stress is associated with gastrointestinal (GI) distress. This secondary analysis from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether three different probiotics could normalise self-reported stress-associated GI discomfort and reduce overall self-reported stress. Undergraduate students (n=581) received Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071, or placebo. Participants self-reported 2 outcomes for a 6-week period, which included final academic exams: daily level of stress (0=no stress to 10=extremely stressed) and weekly three diarrhoea-related symptoms (DS, 1=no discomfort to 7=severe discomfort) using the GI Symptom Rating Scale. Self-reported stress was positively related to DS (P=0.0068). Mean DS scores were lower with B. bifidum versus placebo at week 2 at the average level of stress and the average body mass index (BMI). DS scores were lower with B. bifidum at week 5 versus week 0 and 1 and with B. infantis R0033 at week 6 versus week 0. DS scores were higher when antibiotics were used in the prior week with placebo (P=0.0092). DS were not different with or without antibiotic use with the probiotics. Only B. bifidum had an effect on self-reported stress scores (P=0.0086). The self-reported stress score was also dependent on hours of sleep per day where it decreased by 0.13 for each additional hour of sleep. During a stressful period, B. bifidum R0071 decreases DS and self-reported stress scores. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01709825.
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Culpepper
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Statistics, University of Florida, 102 Griffin-Floyd Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.|3 Department of Biology, University of Florida, Bartram Hall, 876 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.|4 MCC Statistical Consulting LLC, 2219 NW 23rd Ter, Gainesville, FL 32605, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Christman
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nieves
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Spaiser
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: 5 Lallemand Health Solutions, 6100 Royalmount, Montréal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.affiliation: 1 Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, 572 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Langkamp-Henken
mesh_terms: D000069985:Bifidobacterium bifidum / Q000276:immunology*; D000069978:Bifidobacterium longum / Q000276:immunology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D052198:Lactobacillus helveticus / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos
keywords: Bifidobacterium infantis; Lactobacillus helveticus; academic stress; bifidobacteria; probiotic