The supplementation of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 has been shown to improve bowel movement, specifically stool frequency, in elderly with chronic constipation, according to a four-week RCT conducted in Japan.
Consumption of probiotics could ease constipation, improve stool consistency and increase faecal Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus among people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C)
A double-blind, randomised clinical trial has shown that the supplementation of probiotics with the laxative magnesium oxide is effective in managing constipation in young children.
Probiotic supplementation may alleviate certain constipation pain in children, but has no significant impact on the success of the actual treatment, according to a Chinese systematic review.
Synbiotics may be preferable to laxatives in treating constipation, but more evidence on specific benefits are required, according to the findings of a population study by Selangor's Universiti Putra Malaysia.
