Writing in the journal Nutrients, researchers at ADM R&D Health & Wellness, Universitat Politècnica de València, and other institutions in Spain reported changes in gut microbiota nd metabolic pathways, providing a “promising basis for future preclinical and clinical studies” to evaluate BPL1 for constipation.
Microbial approaches to constipation
Studies suggest that chronic constipation may affect around 15% of adults worldwide and 1 in 5 European Mediterranean individuals. Other studies indicate that occasional constipation affects over 7% globally, mainly females, and is associated with psychological distress and reduced quality of life.
The gut microbiota are emerging as critical influencing factors in the development of constipation.
Individuals who are constipated may have dysbiosis and reduced levels of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains. Changes in gut bacterial balance can affect the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which regulate motility. Microbial alterations may also negatively impact the synthesis of serotonin, further affecting bowel movements.
Because pharmaceutical approaches to constipation, such as laxatives, may cause side effects such as abdominal discomfort or diarrhea, there is a growing interest in probiotics as a more natural, effective way to restore gut health and relieve symptoms.
Study details
The animal study involved 59 rats, divided into two groups: constipation induced by loperamide and a control group. The rats received a low (1.5 × 108 CFU) or high (3 × 109 CFU) dose of ADM’s probiotic BPL1, which contains Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis or a placebo for three days.
The researchers evaluated stool and gut characteristics, gastrointestinal transit time (GTT), gene expression, and gut microbiome composition.
They reported that the probiotic “effectively restored” the effects induced by the loperamide, such as decreased stool number, weight, and humidity, and the positive effects were more pronounced with the higher dose.
Microbiome analysis indicated that the probiotic reduced the abundance of bacteria associated with constipation and supported pathways related to gut motility and barrier integrity.
Loperamide intervention has been shown to alter the colon mucosa by reducing the number of goblet cells. In the present study, however, no significant differences in goblet cells count were observed.
To investigate the potential mechanisms by which BPL1 may exert its laxative effects, the expression of different genes encoding proteins involved in intestinal fluid regulation were analyzed. Again, no significant differences were observed in the expression of these genes. Moreover, considerable interindividual variability among the animals was noted, suggesting that expression levels were not modified by either the loperamide injection or the administered intervention.
Overall, the findings indicate that the increased stool moisture observed after BPL1 intervention may not be associated with changes in mucosal structure, goblet cell abundance, or gene expression, but rather with alternative physiological mechanisms.
“It would be interesting to explore in a future study other plausible pathways that could involve increases in luminal water content, such as the activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which promotes Cl−ion secretion," the authors wrote.
They concluded: “While these findings are promising, the exploratory nature of the study—particularly its limited sample size and short intervention period—requires thoughtful interpretation,” the researchers wrote, calling for further research to strengthen the robustness of the conclusions.
Source: Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081237 “Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 BPL1® Laxative Effects in Loperamide-Induced Constipated SD Rats.” Authors: A. Rodents-Gavidia et al.
