Abstract
Of 126 senior subjects answered to lead normal lives on questionnaire, 28 were found to have stool once in 2 to 3 days and 8 once in 4 to 7 days.
Eighteen out of the above cases complaining about constipation to a varying degree of seriousness were given both Bifidobacterium cultured milk (hereafter bifidus milk) and ordinary lactic cultured milk (hereafter lactic milk) alternatively in order to find out any benefit from Bifidobacterium over lactic milk with relieving constipation complaint.
Stool frequencies were reported with those subjects in three consecutive 10 day-periods which constitute each 10 days of predosing, lactic milk dosing and bifidus milk dosing in the order. Average frequencies in each 10-day period were 4.8, 5.7 and 7.1. The frequency in the third period was significantly higher than the others.
The fecal specimen was collected from 5 cases through the test period and their microflora was examined. Bifidobacterium group was found significantly higher in count in the specimens taken from the bifidus milk dosing period. Interestingly, dominant Bifidobacterium group lasted 8 weeks with 2 cases after dosing ceased.
