Calcium phosphate supplementation increases faecal Lactobacillus spp. in a randomised trial of young adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.J. Dahl ◽  
A.L. Ford ◽  
J.A. Coppola ◽  
D. Lopez ◽  
W. Combs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Calcium Phosphate ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus ◽  
Crossover Design ◽  
Stool Frequency ◽  
Lactobacillus Helveticus ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Lactobacillus Spp ◽  
Phosphate Supplementation

The aim of the studies was to determine the effects of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate supplementation on faecal Lactobacillus spp., with and without a probiotic supplement, in healthy adults. Study 1 comprised of a randomised, double-blind, crossover design; participants (n=15) received 2 capsules/d of 250 mg elemental calcium as calcium carbonate (Ca1) and calcium phosphate (Ca2) each for 2-week periods, with 2-week baseline and washout periods. Study 2 was a randomised, double-blind, crossover design; participants (n=17) received 2 capsules/d of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 (probiotic) alone, the probiotic with 2 capsules/d of Ca1, and probiotic with 2 capsules/d of Ca2 each for 2-week periods with 2-week baseline and washout periods. In both studies, stools were collected during the baseline, intervention and washout periods for Lactobacillus spp. quantification and qPCR analyses. Participants completed daily questionnaires of stool frequency and compliance. In Study 1, neither calcium supplement influenced viable counts of resident Lactobacillus spp., genome equivalents of lactic acid bacteria or stool frequency. In Study 2, faecal Lactobacillus spp. counts were significantly enhanced from baseline when the probiotic was administered with Ca2 (4.83±0.30, 5.79±0.31) (P=0.02), but not with Ca1 (4.98±0.31) or with the probiotic alone (5.36±0.31, 5.55±0.29) (not significant). Detection of L. helveticus R0052 and L. rhamnosus R0011 was significantly increased with all treatments, but did not differ among treatments. There were no changes in weekly stool frequency. Calcium phosphate co-administration may increase gastrointestinal survival of orally-administered Lactobacillus spp.

Calcium Supplementation Does Not Contribute to Constipation in Healthy Women

2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zainab Alyousif ◽  
Amanda L. Ford ◽  
Wendy J. Dahl
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Carbonate ◽  
Calcium Phosphate ◽  
Calcium Supplementation ◽  
Stool Frequency ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Split Dose ◽  
Stool Form ◽  
Slow Transit ◽  
Elemental Calcium ◽  
Healthy Females

Purpose: It is commonly suggested that calcium supplementation contributes to constipation; however, little research has explored the effects of calcium supplementation on gut motility. Methods: In an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, crossover pilot study, healthy females (n = 27, aged 43.0 ± 10.6 years) received a split dose of 500 mg/d of elemental calcium from calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate each for 2 weeks, after a 2-week baseline and separated by a 2-week washout. Participants completed daily questionnaires of stool frequency, Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS), and supplement intake compliance. Results: There were no differences among periods. Mean ± SE stool frequency averaged 1.3 ± 0.1 stools/d in each period. Participants reported 34%, 34%, 37%, and 29% of stools were indicative of slow transit or constipation (BSFS of 1 or 2) during baseline, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and washout periods, respectively. Participants also reported from 6% to 10% of stools as fast transit or diarrhea (BSFS of 6 or 7) during the periods. Conclusion: This study suggests that neither calcium carbonate nor calcium phosphate, providing 500 mg/d of calcium, affects stool frequency or form. Although stool frequency was normal, the healthy females participating in the study experienced stools indicating slow (constipation) and fast (diarrhea) transit.

scholarly journals Consuming foods with added oligofructose improves stool frequency: a randomised trial in healthy young adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy J. Dahl ◽  
Arnelle R. Wright ◽  
Gretchen J. Specht ◽  
Mary Christman ◽  
Anne Mathews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Stool Frequency ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Fibre Intake ◽  
Intensity Score ◽  
Gi Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Intensity ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe impact of oligofructose (OF) intake on stool frequency has not been clearly substantiated, while significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have been reported in some individuals. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of OF on stool frequency and GI symptoms in healthy adults. In an 8-week, randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm study, ninety-eight participants were provided with 16 g OF in yogurt and snack bars (twenty male and thirty female) or matching control foods (seventeen male and thirty-one female), to incorporate, by replacement, into their usual diets. Participants completed a daily online questionnaire recording stool frequency and rating four symptoms: bloating, flatulence, abdominal cramping and noise, each on a Likert scale from ‘0’ for none (no symptoms) to ‘6’ for very severe, with a maximum symptom intensity score of 24 (sum of severities from all four symptoms). Online 24 h dietary recalls were completed during pre-baseline and weeks 4, 6 and 8 to determine fibre intake. When provided with OF foods, fibre intake increased to 24·3 (sem 0·5) g/d from pre-baseline (12·1 (sem 0·5) g/d; P < 0·001). Stool frequency increased with OF from 1·3 (sem 0·2) to 1·8 (sem 0·2) stools per d in males and 1·0 (sem 0·1) to 1·4 (sem 0·1) stools per d in females during intervention weeks compared with pre-baseline (P < 0·05),but did not change for control participants (males: 1·6 (sem 0·2) to 1·8 (sem 0·2); females: 1·3 (sem 0·1) to 1·4 (sem 0·1)). Flatulence was the most commonly reported symptom. Mean GI symptom intensity score was higher for the OF group (3·2 (sem 0·3)) v. control (1·7 (sem 0·1)) (P < 0·01), with few participants reporting above moderate symptoms. No change in symptom intensity occurred over time. Consuming yogurt and snack bars with 16 g OF improves regularity in young healthy adults. However, GI symptoms, resulting from an increase in oligofructose intake, may not diminish with time.

Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 decreases stress-associated diarrhoea-related symptoms and self-reported stress: a secondary analysis of a randomised trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Culpepper ◽  
M.C. Christman ◽  
C. Nieves ◽  
G.J. Specht ◽  
C.C. Rowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Bifidobacterium Longum ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Bifidobacterium Bifidum ◽  
Lactobacillus Helveticus ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Double Blind

Psychological stress is associated with gastrointestinal (GI) distress. This secondary analysis from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether three different probiotics could normalise self-reported stress-associated GI discomfort and reduce overall self-reported stress. Undergraduate students (n=581) received Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Bifidobacterium longum ssp. infantis R0033, Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071, or placebo. Participants self-reported 2 outcomes for a 6-week period, which included final academic exams: daily level of stress (0=no stress to 10=extremely stressed) and weekly three diarrhoea-related symptoms (DS, 1=no discomfort to 7=severe discomfort) using the GI Symptom Rating Scale. Self-reported stress was positively related to DS (P=0.0068). Mean DS scores were lower with B. bifidum versus placebo at week 2 at the average level of stress and the average body mass index (BMI). DS scores were lower with B. bifidum at week 5 versus week 0 and 1 and with B. infantis R0033 at week 6 versus week 0. DS scores were higher when antibiotics were used in the prior week with placebo (P=0.0092). DS were not different with or without antibiotic use with the probiotics. Only B. bifidum had an effect on self-reported stress scores (P=0.0086). The self-reported stress score was also dependent on hours of sleep per day where it decreased by 0.13 for each additional hour of sleep. During a stressful period, B. bifidum R0071 decreases DS and self-reported stress scores. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01709825.

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