Effect of Ingestion of Fermented Soymilk Foods Containing Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bifidobacteria on the Constipation Tendency of Healthy Adults

To examine the defecation status of healthy adults ingesting foods (FF16) containing 35 strains of 16 species of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria and their usefulness for the intestinal flora, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, crossover-controlled trial including 20 healthy adults. Subjects were 41-61 years old with 3-5 bowel movements per week. Subjects who took the test diet containing FF16 (150 mg/day) showed statistically significant improvements in the overall score of the Japanese Constipation Rating Scale, frequency of defecation, anal pain during defecation, and defecation status compared to before the intervention. In the test food intake group, Bacteroidaceae, Sutterellaceae, and Oscillospiraceae, noxious bacteria related to stool odor, were statistically significantly reduced compared to the placebo group. In addition, Desulfovibrionaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, Eggerthellaceae and Actinomycetaceae, beneficial bacteria involved in the reduction of infectious diseases, were statistically significantly increased compared to the placebo group. From these facts, improvement of intestinal flora was confirmed. The above results confirm that ingestion of FF16 is effective at improving defecation status and is accompanied by changes in intestinal bacterial flora.