Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GOS42 on gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults with occasional constipation
(2026) In World Journal of Gastroenterology 32(21).- Abstract
BACKGROUND The global prevalence of functional constipation is approximately 12%. It is characterized by infrequent complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), hard or lumpy stools, straining during defecation, and has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). The probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) 299v (Lp299v) has been demonstrated to be efficacious in irritable bowel syndrome. However, its efficacy has not yet been evaluated in constipated but healthy subjects. The hypothesis of the present study was that an 8-week supplementation of L. plantarum [Lp299v and L. plantarum GOS42 (LpGOS42)] would result in significant improvements in constipation-related symptoms compared to placebo. AIM To investigate... (More)
BACKGROUND The global prevalence of functional constipation is approximately 12%. It is characterized by infrequent complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), hard or lumpy stools, straining during defecation, and has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). The probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) 299v (Lp299v) has been demonstrated to be efficacious in irritable bowel syndrome. However, its efficacy has not yet been evaluated in constipated but healthy subjects. The hypothesis of the present study was that an 8-week supplementation of L. plantarum [Lp299v and L. plantarum GOS42 (LpGOS42)] would result in significant improvements in constipation-related symptoms compared to placebo. AIM To investigate whether L. plantarum improves constipation and QoL in healthy subjects experiencing occasional constipation. METHODS The effect of L. plantarum was studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial carried out at one site in London, Canada, and included 100 healthy subjects with occasional constipation. Following a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomized to consume either L. plantarum or placebo (1:1) for an 8-week period. Between-group differences in gut transit time, number of CSBM, stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale), frequency of flatulence, and QoL were evaluated using Linear mixed models. RESULTS The L. plantarum group (n = 49) showed significant improvements in stool consistency (0.91 ± 1.04 L. plantarum vs 0.43 ± 1.15 placebo, P = 0.023) and percentage of CSBM without hard or lumpy stools (30.2 ± 38.8 vs 11.9 ± 34.8, P = 0.005) compared to placebo (n = 48) after 8 weeks (per-protocol population). Significant improvements in flatulence (-0.26 ± 0.59 vs -0.06 ± 0.53, P = 0.043), and QoL in the satisfaction domain (-1.15 ± 1.09 vs -0.76 ± 1.16, P = 0.007) were also seen in the L. plantarum group compared to placebo. A post hoc analysis of 77 subjects with ≤ 3 weekly bowel movements (BMs) at baseline showed a significantly greater increase in weekly CSBM for the L. plantarum group compared to placebo (3.0 ± 3.0 vs 1.8 ± 2.4, P = 0.024). CONCLUSION Supplementation of L. plantarum (Lp299v and LpGOS42) for eight weeks significantly increases the number of BM, improves the stool consistency, reduces flatulence and improves QoL in subjects with occasional constipation.
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- author
- Önning, Gunilla LU ; Vegge, Christina Skovgaard ; Montelius, Caroline ; Lewis, Erin Diane ; Al-Wahsh, Huda ; Moulin, Marc ; Crowley, David Cecil and Guthrie, Najla
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Bristol Stool Scale, Flatulence, Gut transit time, Occasional constipation, Probiotics, Stool frequency
- in
- World Journal of Gastroenterology
- volume
- 32
- issue
- 21
- article number
- 117959
- publisher
- Baishideng Publishing Group Inc
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105040270914
- ISSN
- 1007-9327
- DOI
- 10.3748/wjg.v32.i21.117959
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026.
- id
- 40179cc7-9587-4def-ac17-adc0a1ed0e7e
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-25 16:04:35
- date last changed
- 2026-08-25 16:05:17
@article{40179cc7-9587-4def-ac17-adc0a1ed0e7e,
abstract = {{<p>BACKGROUND The global prevalence of functional constipation is approximately 12%. It is characterized by infrequent complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), hard or lumpy stools, straining during defecation, and has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). The probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) 299v (Lp299v) has been demonstrated to be efficacious in irritable bowel syndrome. However, its efficacy has not yet been evaluated in constipated but healthy subjects. The hypothesis of the present study was that an 8-week supplementation of L. plantarum [Lp299v and L. plantarum GOS42 (LpGOS42)] would result in significant improvements in constipation-related symptoms compared to placebo. AIM To investigate whether L. plantarum improves constipation and QoL in healthy subjects experiencing occasional constipation. METHODS The effect of L. plantarum was studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial carried out at one site in London, Canada, and included 100 healthy subjects with occasional constipation. Following a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomized to consume either L. plantarum or placebo (1:1) for an 8-week period. Between-group differences in gut transit time, number of CSBM, stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale), frequency of flatulence, and QoL were evaluated using Linear mixed models. RESULTS The L. plantarum group (n = 49) showed significant improvements in stool consistency (0.91 ± 1.04 L. plantarum vs 0.43 ± 1.15 placebo, P = 0.023) and percentage of CSBM without hard or lumpy stools (30.2 ± 38.8 vs 11.9 ± 34.8, P = 0.005) compared to placebo (n = 48) after 8 weeks (per-protocol population). Significant improvements in flatulence (-0.26 ± 0.59 vs -0.06 ± 0.53, P = 0.043), and QoL in the satisfaction domain (-1.15 ± 1.09 vs -0.76 ± 1.16, P = 0.007) were also seen in the L. plantarum group compared to placebo. A post hoc analysis of 77 subjects with ≤ 3 weekly bowel movements (BMs) at baseline showed a significantly greater increase in weekly CSBM for the L. plantarum group compared to placebo (3.0 ± 3.0 vs 1.8 ± 2.4, P = 0.024). CONCLUSION Supplementation of L. plantarum (Lp299v and LpGOS42) for eight weeks significantly increases the number of BM, improves the stool consistency, reduces flatulence and improves QoL in subjects with occasional constipation.</p>}},
author = {{Önning, Gunilla and Vegge, Christina Skovgaard and Montelius, Caroline and Lewis, Erin Diane and Al-Wahsh, Huda and Moulin, Marc and Crowley, David Cecil and Guthrie, Najla}},
issn = {{1007-9327}},
keywords = {{Bristol Stool Scale; Flatulence; Gut transit time; Occasional constipation; Probiotics; Stool frequency}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
number = {{21}},
publisher = {{Baishideng Publishing Group Inc}},
series = {{World Journal of Gastroenterology}},
title = {{Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GOS42 on gastrointestinal symptoms in healthy adults with occasional constipation}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v32.i21.117959}},
doi = {{10.3748/wjg.v32.i21.117959}},
volume = {{32}},
year = {{2026}},
}