What’s The Best Probiotic For Constipation

Best Budget: Culturelle Daily Probiotic

Courtesy of Amazon

• Includes prebiotic fiber to boost results

• Not as strong as others on the market

Probiotic supplements that are super affordable are hard to come by. One 30 day supply of Culturelle won’t break the bank and contains a potent, evidence-backed strain of good bacteria. Lactobacillus rhamnosus has been used in multiple clinical trials focusing on abdominal pain, infection-induced diarrhea, and allergic reactions such as eczema.

Culturelle contains ten billion Colony Forming Units of this evidence-backed bacteria strain per serving. In addition to these beneficial bacteria, Culturelle combines 200 mg of inulin, a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber to feed the probiotic. Independent product testing company, Consumer Labs, confirmed that it contains the listed amount of probiotic organisms and is free of contamination as well as yeast, milk, dairy, lactose, wheat, and gluten, which makes this a great option for anyone who may be following a gut-healing specific diet looking for an extra gut health boost.

Type: Capsules | Colony Forming Units: 10 billion | Dosage: 1 daily | Certified: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, soy-free, non-GMO

Price at time of publish: $17

• Blend contains both a prebiotic and probiotic

• Uses only research-backed probiotic strains

• Patented microalgae capsule ensures survival in stomach acid

Type: Capsules | Colony Forming Units: 53.6 billion AFU | Dosage: 2 daily | Certified: Vegan, allergen-friendly

Constipation Case Responds To Three

Rachel came to see me after disagreeing with medical adviceto use antimicrobials, and reading Healthy Gut,Healthy You. She presented with the following symptoms:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome :Without intervention, Rachel would go to the bathroom only once every 5-6 days.
• Respiratory infections

Rachel was under a lot of stress, and had had lifelong issueswith slow bowel transit. She also had a long history of antibiotic use, and hadto use OTC medications that soften stool to go to the bathroom.

Despite all her symptoms, Rachel was working hard to feelbetter. She said she had tried Everything: fiber, magnesium, variouslaxatives, chia, aloe, apple cider vinegar, large-dose vitamin C, and exercises.She was on the Autoimmune Paleo diet, a very restrictive, anddifficult-to-maintain, diet. She had already tried category 1 and category 3probiotics separately but didnt see any results.

With my support, Rachel started using all three categories ofprobiotics together. This was a leap of faith for her because she was worriedabout flaring her symptoms. She had read that research suggests Saccharomyces boulardii was most helpful for IBS-D, andwas worried this probiotic would slow her stool frequency down even further.

She also reported her mood was better. After adjusting, Rachel was able to titrate down to a minimal effective dose within a few weeks.

Physiologic Benefits Of Probiotics In Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Probiotics are live microorganisms with a vast array of therapeutic potential for gastrointestinal disease. They have been studied and used in many gastrointestinal disorders, with growing evidence for use in pouchitis, Clostridium difficile colitis, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and IBS. The emerging multifactorial pathophysiologic paradigm of IBS may create adjunctive probiotic therapeutic opportunities.

Probiotics have a beneficial effect on intestinal mucosa via several proposed mechanisms that include suppression of the growth and binding of pathogenic bacteria, improvement of the barrier function of the epithelium, and alteration of the immune activity of the host., Probiotics secrete short chain fatty acids, an action that results in decreased luminal pH and production of bactericidal proteins. Butyric acid, a byproduct of bacterial fermentation of fiber, has been shown to nourish colonic enterocytes, enhancing mucosal integrity., The DNA of probiotic organisms has also been shown to inhibit apoptosis of epithelial cells., In addition, probiotics may improve bowel dysmotility.

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Read Also: Where To Buy Silver Fern Probiotics

What Is The Best Probiotic For Ibs

Before you rush out to buy a daily probiotic, theres a few things you need to consider. The first is that there are different types of IBS, and so there are different probiotics suitable for the different types. So, it pays to do your research into IBS and probiotics first.

Finding the best probiotic brands for IBS depends on your IBS type, your symptoms, and your microbiome. When it comes to probiotics and IBS, there is often a trial and error process involved to find which bacterial species and their strains work best for you.

If you want to know more about the composition of your own gut microbiome, an Atlas Microbiome Test can give you unique insight into your gut bacteria and how they influence your health.

What Are Probiotics For Constipation

These supplements are a great way to get your daily dose of probiotics. They can help improve gut health, which can lead to relief from constipation. There are a variety of probiotic supplements available, so be sure to choose one thats right for you.

Some probiotic supplements may contain strains of bacteria that are not effective against constipation. So, its important to do your research and find a supplement that contains the right strains of bacteria.

You May Like: Naturvet Advanced Probiotics And Enzymes

Best Prebiotic + Probiotic: Happy V Prebiotic + Probiotic

Happy V

• Fights bacterial vaginosis, UTIs, and yeast infections

• Restores gut health and decreases bloating

• No refrigeration necessary

Happy Vs Prebiotic + Probiotic Vaginal Health Supplements can effectively fight against bacterial vaginosis, UTIs, and yeast infections thanks to its lineup of powerhouse ingredients. The formula’s probiotics optimize your vaginas pH for wellness, prevent pathogenic activity, and improve your lactic acid production. You can also rely on the supplement’s probiotics to help restore your gut health, increase gut comfort, and even decrease bloating. The capsules are made with a patented prebiotic that destroys bad bacteria, improves the probiotics’ efficacy, and maintains urinary tract and vaginal health. To round things out, the ingredient list also boasts lactobacillus, which is the most common beneficial bacteria found in the vaginal flora.

Happy Vs Prebiotic + Probiotic Vaginal Health Supplements are also physician-formulated, clinically proven, 100% natural, drug-free, and allergen-free. So, you know you can trust them.

Type: Capsules | Colony Forming Units: 20 billion | Dosage: 2 daily | Certified: Vegetarian, allergen-friendly

Price at time of publish: $35

Best Powder: Garden Of Life 5

• Contains 34 studied probiotic strains for digestive health

• Also made of prebiotics, fiber, and enzymes

• Can be added to your smoothies or shake

• Only five servings per package

Looking for a powerful probiotic solution without adding a new daily supplement to your routine? If so, Garden of Lifes 5 Day Max Restore is a potent, fast solution.

This probiotic blend in powder form is rich in different Bifidobacterium strains which have been studied extensively for their effect on the gastrointestinal tract. One daily serving contains 400 Billion CFU of 34 different probiotic strains, 100 milligrams of digestive enzymes, and a rich prebiotic blend from Jerusalem artichoke and banana powder. This powder alone contains 10 grams of fiber per serving, a bonus for anyone seeking to increase their fiber consumption.

Certified organic, non-GMO, and featuring an NSF certificate, this supplement has been independently tested and evaluated against a rigorous set of quality and material safety requirements.

Type: Powder | Colony Forming Units: 400 billion | Dosage: 2 tbs. daily | Certified: Organic, gluten-free, NSF

Price at time of publish: $32

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Why You Should Trust Us

Every brand and product on our list has been reviewed by registered dietitians and vetted to ensure that it aligns with Healthlines brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:

• adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements, per Food and Drug Administration regulations
• is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices established by the FDA
• is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
• is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust, such as having its supplements validated by third-party labs

• Strains:Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
• Best for: IBS-related symptoms, travel

One capsule of Culturelle Digestive Daily probiotic has 10 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a probiotic strain that may benefit a number of health conditions like diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome , plus 200 mg of the prebiotic inulin, which fuels beneficial gut bacteria .

Culturelle guarantees that the stated number of CFUs on the box is viable through the expiration date of the product, something the NIH recommends customers look out for.

Culturelle products are packaged to maintain viability, and the company is certified through NSF International, an organization that independently tests supplements for quality and potency and inspects manufacturing facilities.

Culturelle products dont require refrigeration.

Possible Involvement Of Microbiota In Chronic Constipation

Gut microbiota affect the structure and function of the central nervous system due to interactions with enterochromaffin cells and vagal afferent nerve pathways . Rome IV criteria emphasise that the gut-brain axis may be involved in the aetiology of functional bowel disorders . These pathways might serve as potential targets for future interventions.

Another possible link between constipation and microbiota may be small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . SIBO was shown to be associated with prolonged small bowel transit time . Sarosiek et al. observed that in patients with chronic constipation, lubiprostone increased the frequency bowel movements. Moreover, 41% of patients who were recognised as SIBO-positive became SIBO-negative after treatment . In the aforementioned study, all SIBO-positive patients were tested positive for both methane and hydrogen in breath tests. Therefore, both methane and hydrogen may contribute to constipation in SIBO-positive individuals . However, Grover et al. reported that methane alone, regardless of the presence of SIBO, was linked to IBS-C . It is likely that SIBO enhances constipation via methane and hydrogen production. Of note, SIBO might arise secondarily to diminished intestinal clearance in patients with decreased bowel motility. All of the above may accelerate a circle of constipation-related causes, although these interactions require further investigation.

Read Also: Probiotics For Children’s Diarrhea

What Are The Signs Of Constipation

There are a few different signs that you may be constipated. These can include having hard or lumpy stools, feeling like you cant empty your bowels completely, straining to have a bowel movement, and/or having fewer than three bowel movements in a week.

If youre experiencing any of these symptoms, then you may want to try a probiotic for constipation relief. Probiotics are live microorganisms that can help improve your gut health.

Probiotics For Constipation: Do They Really Work

Richard Digestion

Ask a random person on the street for a solution to constipation and one of the most common answers is likely to involve eating more fibre. Certainly, fibre can help to ease food through your digestive system, but scientists also known that it can also affect the friendly bacteria in your gut. As one scientist put it: the interaction between fiber and the microbiota of the human colon appears to play a major role in generating the beneficial effects.

As an interesting addition to this concept, scientists have also noted that certain bacterial strains are far less commonly found among individuals with constipation when compared to control groups. This therefore suggests that your gut bacteria may be having an impact on constipation.

It should therefore come as little surprise that a growing number of people are asking whether changes to your gut microbiotia can therefore impact cases of constipation. Just as importantly, can probiotics – supplements that contain additional doses of friendly bacteria – make for better digestion?

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Probiotics For Males And Females

The effects of probiotics may be different in males and females.

In a 2014 study, researchers gave males and females with obesityLactobacillus rhamnosus. The results suggested that females lost weight and fat during the trial, and that they maintained the loss after study completion. The males in the study, however, did not.

A different study in people with Salmonella infection suggested that the effects of taking Lactobacillus plantarum varied according to sex. Although the study authors saw little evidence that this probiotic can treat Salmonella, they noted how males and females experienced the symptoms and clearance of the infection differently.

Scientists need to conduct more studies to establish whether or not probiotic therapy should be different depending on a persons sex.

shows that people with obesity have lower bacterial diversity.

A small 2019 study found that people following a low calorie diet for 15 weeks had changes in their gut bacteria. They also had a reduction in bacteria associated with atherosclerosis, which occurs when the arteries become clogged with plaque.

The links between weight and gut bacteria could indicate that probiotics may be able to support weight loss.

Some suggest that supplementation with synbiotics, using strains such as Lactobacillus gasseri, cause weight reduction in large independent studies. Adding certain fibers may increase these effects.

Do Probiotics Help You Poop

Yes. Probiotics can help you poop regularly and feel good again, regain your appetite and energy, and say goodbye to stomach discomfort and pain. They can also help with weight loss and foul-smelling stools that can be not only embarrassing for you and others but also symptoms of digestive issues and problems with your gut health.

We have done extensive research on the topic, so you dont have to. Read on to understand better what probiotics are, how they can aid digestion, constipation, gut health, and motility, and check out our findings of some of the probiotics currently on the market.

Also Check: Take Probiotics Morning Or Night

Risk Factors For Constipation

Anyone can be constipated from time to time, but there are some factors that increase the likelihood of occasional constipation. The first factor is age, and experts say around 40% of older adults report that they have one or more digestive problems. Constipation is the most commonly reported digestive issue reported by older adults. Why are older adults more likely to have bouts of constipation? It is natural that as people age, their bodies may not be able to move material through the intestines as quickly. When food moves through the intestines slowly, more water is drawn out which can result in hard stool thats difficult to pass. In addition, older adults are more likely to be taking medications, and there are many medications that can make constipation more likely. While age can be an important factor in digestive regularity, there are also some lifestyle choices that can increase your risk for occasional constipation, regardless of your age. These habits include:

• Not drinking enough water
• And limited physical activity

Which Probiotic Supplement Works Best

Not all probiotic supplements are manufactured alike. Each supplement is different from another based up on the strains and potency. Which exactly works for constipation is the most important factor when it comes to purchasing them.

There is no specific single probiotic strain that treats constipation. For long term and effective results, you have to choose a supplement that has a combination of different strains. Because, what works for one person may or may not be effective for another.

We have mentioned the main bacterial strains below. Make sure the probiotic supplement you choose has at least 2 of these strains.

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How We Chose The Best Probiotic Supplements

We selected the best probiotics using the following criteria:

• Vetting: All the products have been vetted to ensure that they meet Healthlines medical and business standards.
• Effective dose: All the supplements below contain at least 106 CFUs per gram.
• Ingredients: We looked for products that are made from high quality ingredients and free of artificial additives and fillers.
• Personal needs: Whether you need a specific probiotic strain or follow a gluten-free diet, we included options to suit a variety of needs and preferences.

Gut Microbiome Alteration In Constipation

The human intestine forms a habitat for more than 1000 different species of microorganisms, predominantly bacteria, hence the number of microbiotic cells is nearly equal to the number of hosts cells . There is an increasing body of evidence that alteration of gut microbiota may contribute to the development of functional bowel disorders, which may be secondary to gut microbiota dysbiosis responsible for altered metabolic activity . The putative microbiotic-dependent mechanisms in chronic constipation are presented in Figure 2.

Putative microbiotic-dependent mechanisms in chronic constipation

BA bile acids, ENS enteric nervous system, SCFAs short-chain fatty acids.

In experimental and clinical studies, changes in microbiota associated with the occurrence of FC have been observed . A direct relationship between microbiota and constipation was demonstrated in an experiment conducted by Ge et al. . In this rodent study a 4-week, broad-spectrum, antibiotic therapy was followed by faecal microbiome transplantation from constipated or healthy donors . Mice receiving transplants from constipated donors were more likely to develop constipation in comparison to the control group. The authors evaluated microbiotic metabolites and found that short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids were decreased in mice transplanted with faeces collected from constipated humans.

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Can Probiotics Help Gut Motility And Affect Constipation

Gut motility refers to the digestive systems movement. A person with poor gut motility may eventually develop chronic constipation. A handful of studies have now established that probiotics beneficial effects on gut motility are regulated by the nervous system, this provides evidence that probiotics may aid in the regulation of the ENS or CNS to restore gut motility.

Who May Not Benefit From Probiotic Supplements

There is a lot we dont know about how probiotic supplementation affects those with gastrointestinal disorders. For many conditions, it is unclear if probiotics might be harmful or exacerbate symptoms. Based on current research, probiotic supplementation may not be beneficial as a treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in all ages or for acute gastroenteritis in children.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder impacting 20% of children and adults in North America with symptoms that include abdominal pain or discomfort, changes in bowel habits, and changes in stool appearance and form. Although the cause of IBS is still unknown, the gut microbiome plays a role in the physiological symptoms. Current research shows that probiotic supplementation likely does not provide significant relief for those with IBS.

As time goes on, more research will be done to determine the connection between the microbiome and IBS in hopes of finding a cure and/or relief from symptoms, and that may include the use of probiotics.

Acute gastroenteritis in children

Acute gastroenteritis is a common short-term illness. Although there are many studies testing probiotic use for acute gastroenteritis in children, the results are conflicting. One group of researchers from China recommends using the probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus either in combination or alone in otherwise healthy children to help with symptoms.

Also Check: What Is The Best Doctor Recommended Probiotic