Abstract
To investigate the effect of a fermented milk product containing Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult, 1.0×1010 cfu/100 mL/day, on bowel habits, an open trial was conducted. The subjects were 58 healthy persons (average age 68.8 years) reporting 3 – 5 defecation days/week and showing<70 % of fecal water content. The fermented milk product (test food) was administered daily for 28 days during the intake period. Four weeks consumption of the test food increased defecation times and days, compared with before the intake (p<0.0001). The prevalence rate of subjects who did not defecate more than three consecutive days also decreased during intake, compared with before intake (p=0.013). The increase in stool frequency was accompanied with an increase in stool quantity. Stool consistency as measured using the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) was not changed in any subject. As assessed by a 5-point Likert scale, the average scores of straining and feeling of incomplete evacuation decreased during the intake period (p=0.022 and 0.0002, respectively). On the other hand, abdominal pain during evacuation and abdominal bloating were not significantly changed by intake of the test food. Color dye transit time through the digestive tract showed no change after four weeks of intake in any subjects. These results suggest that intake of a fermented milk product containing B.breve strain Yakult might be effective for improving the bowel habit in subjects with mild constipation.
