Abstract
Bacillus subtilis (C-3102) has been utilized as a probiotic feed additive for domestic animals. We reported that oral administration of the strain to domestic animals led improvement of intestinal bacterial microflora, better recovery from diarrhea, increment of body weight gain, amelioration of egg shell calcification and less fecal odor. We investigated here to evaluate the effects of 8 days consecutive intake of C-3102 on the composition and metabolic activity of human fecal microflora with 25 healthy volunteers (from 25 to 57 years old : 22 men and 3 women with average age of 39.6 years old). Twelve volunteers, one-tablet (1T) group, were given 1 tablet of C-3102 (containing 1×108 cells of C-3102 per tablet) 3 times a day immediately after each meal, the other 13 volunteers, three-tablet (3T) group were given 3 of the tablet 3 times a day in the same manner. All volunteers had control meals for two days prior to fecal sample collection. The first stool after having the meals was collected. We studied the composition and metabolic activity of the subjects' fecal microflora. p-Cresol concentration in the feces was significantly decreased (p <0.001) and numerical decrease in the number of Enterobacteriaceae was observed in 3T group after the C-3102 intake. Fecal ammonia concentration was significantly decreased (p <0.05) in 12 volunteers whose ammonia concentration had been over 500 μg/g feces before C-3102 intake, independent from the C-3102 dose. The results suggest that C-3102 is effective in improving of the composition and metabolic activity of the human intestinal microflora, reducing putrefactive products and adjusting stool frequency of volunteers.
