Supplements

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 supplementation improves functional constipation and associated psychological well-being in adults

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 104 adults with functional constipation (Rome IV criteria) received either L. plantarum Probio87 or placebo for 8 weeks, with a 4-week follow-up. Probio87 significantly increased weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements at Week 8 and Week 12 compared to placebo, and improved Rome IV symptom scores, constipation-related quality of life, and HAMD-24 domains (anxiety, sleep, retardation). Exploratory gene-expression analysis showed increased BDNF and reduced IL-1ฮฒ, CD117, CXCR5, IDO1, DBH, and MLNR expression in the probiotic group.

Last updated: Aug 5, 2026โ€ข1 RCTsโ€ข๐Ÿ“– Read as article โ†’

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCTโ˜…โ˜…โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Meta-analysisโ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†โ˜†
Mechanismโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Safetyโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜†
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 supplementation improves functional constipation and is associated with peripheral gene-expression responses related to inflammation and the gut-brain axis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

observational

Zheng F, Yang Y, Zhan Y, Zhang ZW, Lu G, Xie D, Zhang SM, Mageswary U, Lee YY, Liong MT ยท Frontiers in nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 8 weeks intervention plus 4-week follow-up
Intervention: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 (probiotic supplement) vs placebo, taken for 8 weeks
Outcome: Weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements (primary), Rome IV symptom scores, PAC-QOL (constipation-related quality of life), HAMD-24 (depression/anxiety/sleep), whole-blood gene-expression profiles (inflammation, immune regulation, neuroendocrine signaling, gut motility)
Effect Size: Not reported in abstract
Population: Adults (n=104) meeting Rome IV criteria for functional constipation

Result:

PubMed: 42540505DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1876944

Mechanism Graph

Probio87 supplementation modulates gut microbiota composition
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Alters peripheral gene expression related to inflammation (IL-1ฮฒ downregulation) and neuroendocrine signaling (BDNF upregulation, DBH downregulation)
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Affects gut motility-related genes (MLNR, CD117) and immune regulation (CXCR5, IDO1)
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Results in improved bowel function and psychological well-being

Limitations

  • โš Exploratory gene-expression findings are preliminary and causal mechanisms require further validation
  • โš Single-center trial; results may not generalize to broader populations
  • โš No effect size or dose information provided in abstract

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87?โ–ผ

It is a probiotic strain (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) used in this study to treat functional constipation.

How long did the probiotic treatment last?โ–ผ

The intervention lasted 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week post-intervention follow-up (total 12 weeks).

What were the main benefits of Probio87?โ–ผ

It significantly increased weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements and improved constipation-related quality of life and psychological well-being (anxiety, sleep, retardation) compared to placebo.

Are there any safety concerns?โ–ผ

No intervention-related adverse events or clinically relevant abnormalities in hematological, hepatic, or renal safety parameters were observed.

Products

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References

  1. 1.Zheng F, Yang Y, Zhan Y, Zhang ZW, Lu G, Xie D, Zhang SM, Mageswary U, Lee YY, Liong MT. "Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 supplementation improves functional constipation and is associated with peripheral gene-expression responses related to inflammation and the gut-brain axis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.." Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. PMID: 42540505 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1876944
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.