This study aimed to clarify the influence of dietary habits and daily intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, 1.5×1010 cfu/65 mL/day, on bowel habits in elderly nursing home residents. A total of 20 elderly nursing home residents (2 men, 18 women, age 88.1±6.7 years) participated in this study. We recorded the amount of food intake and bowel habits (defecation frequency and laxative administration) of residents during a designated non-intake period (6 months) and an intake period (6 months). During the intake period, defecation frequency increased from 36.5±13.7 to 41.0±14.4% (p<0.05). Frequency of laxative administration decreased slightly from 26.6±13.0 to 24.9±14.2% (there is no significant difference). Among participants who had improved defecation frequency, the amount of food intake (individual eating rate) was slightly larger than that in those that did not improve defecation frequency (94.0±5.1% vs. 89.1±13.6%). These findings suggest that daily intake of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota might provide benefits including improved bowel habits in elderly nursing home residents.
