Effects of intake of Lactococcus cremoris subsp. cremoris FC on constipation symptoms and immune system in healthy participants with mild constipation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of Lactococcus cremoris subsp. cremoris FC (FC) on constipation symptoms and the immune system in healthy participants with mild constipation. Eighty-three participants were randomised into four groups with different doses: 50, 75, and 100 mg of freeze-dried FC (test) or corn starch (placebo). Defaecation frequency significantly increased in all test groups compared to the placebo group. Stool appearance and volume were improved considerably within the groups administered 50 mg and 75 mg of FC. The abundances of total bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp., and Lactobacillus group in the faeces showed increasing trends in the test groups. Regarding immunological parameters, the naive T cell counts in the blood were significantly higher at a dose of 75 mg of FC in the test group than in the placebo group. These results suggest that FC intake improves defaecation and some immunological parameters, especially naive T cell counts, in healthy adults.

Keywords:

• Lactococcus cremoris subsp. cremoris
• probiotics
• constipation
• defaecation
• immune system
• double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all of the volunteers in this study. We are also grateful to Yuta Takahashi, Shin-ichiro Yamashita, and the other research staff of Orthomedico Inc. for driving the study, Dr. Kazuo Yamamoto for being the PI, Toshihiro Kakinuma for the analyses of study products, Medical Corporation Seishinkai, Takara Clinic, and Nerima Medical Association Minami-machi Clinic (Tokyo, Japan) for the health management of participants, LSI Medience Corporation for laboratory tests, Institute for Health & Life Science (Tokyo, Japan) for the measurement of immunological parameters, and Kyoto Institute of Nutrition & Pathology, Inc. (Kyoto, Japan) for microbial analysis.

Author contributions

Masamichi Watanabe: Conceptualisation, Investigation, Writing – review & editing; Toshinari Maruo: Conceptualisation, Investigation, Writing – review & editing; Toshio Suzuki: Conceptualisation, Investigation, Writing – review & editing, Supervision.

Disclosure statement

The study results and data contained in the publication have been developed by and/or for Fujicco Co., Ltd., who reserve the exclusive right to use the results and data for possible Health Claim requests.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.