Effect of Lactobacillus casei Shirota on colonic transit time in patients with chronic constipation

• Published in: Coloproctology Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 109 - 113
• Main Authors: Krammer, H.-J., von Seggern, H., Schaumburg, J., Neumer, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Colorectal Surgery; Dermatology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Originalarbeit; Proctology; Urology; Probiotics; Transit time; Shirota; Probiotika; Clinical trial; Obstipation; Transitzeit; Klinische Studie; Constipation
• ISSN: 0174-2442; 1615-6730
• DOI: 10.1007/s00053-011-0177-0

Background Slow-transit constipation (STC) is caused by a motility disorder of the colon which leads to delayed transit (>72 h). The probiotic strain Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) has been shown to improve constipation-related symptoms, such as stool frequency and consistency. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed to determine the effect of LcS on the colonic transit time in patients with STC. Patients and methods Colonic transit time of all consecutive outpatients with chronic constipation was determined by the Hinton test using radiopaque markers. Patients with a transit time longer than 72 h were included in the study. A total of 24 patients received either a dairy drink containing 6.5×10 9 colony forming units (cfu) of LcS or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. General gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated weekly by a questionnaire and the measurement of colonic transit time was repeated after the intervention. Results The intake of LcS resulted in a significant acceleration of the total colonic transit time from 95.6 h to 76.5 h (p=0.05). This effect was most pronounced in the sigmoid and rectum transit time (p<0.007). In the placebo group no statistically significant change in the total colonic transit time was observed (before: 95.8 h, after: 87.1 h, p=0.282) Conclusion The daily intake of a probiotic drink containing LcS significantly reduced the colonic transit time in patients with STC.