Formula of Probiotics and Fiber Reduces Constipation in Parkinson’s

Aug 24 2016

 Probiotics and Fiber

A daily dose of an experimental fermented milk drink, which contained probiotics (bacteria that aid digestion) and fiber, helped to reduce constipation in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) according to a new study. The results appear in the August 19 online edition of Neurology.

Constipation is among the most common nonmotor symptoms of PD, and nearly everyone with PD experiences it and there are likely many causes for it. For example, evidence suggests that PD affects neurons in the gut in similar ways as it affects cells in the brain, and this slows the movement of food through the intestines. Some PD medications also exacerbate constipation. And the mix of microbes in a person’s intestines — bacteria and others — may also play a role.

A team of Italian researchers led by Emanuele Cereda, M.D., Ph.D., at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, created an experimental fermented milk drink containing several strains of probiotic bacteria and nearly eight grams of fiber per dose. To test whether the drink would help relieve constipation, they recruited 120 study participants with PD who had fewer than three bowel movements (stools) per week, the clinical definition of constipation.

Eighty participants consumed 125 milliliters (about four ounces, or half a cup) of the experimental drink, and 40 participants consumed a placebo beverage, which lacked both the probiotics and the additional fiber, once a day for two weeks. The study was double-blinded, meaning that neither participants nor medical personnel knew who received which drink. Participants continued to use laxatives during the study, but were advised to reduce them if possible.

Results

• On average, participants who consumed the experimental drink had softer bowel movements and increased the number per week from 2.2 to 3.4.
• Participants taking the placebo reported no significant change in the number of their weekly complete bowel movements.
• Participants who took the experimental drink reduced their use of laxatives more than those who took the placebo.

What Does It Mean?

In this study, a fermented milk drink containing probiotics and fiber helped relieve constipation for participants. Earlier research has shown that probiotics aid digestion and constipation in people with diseases other than PD. Scientists don’t know whether one particular species or strain of probiotic bacteria is more effective than others. The specific drink used in this study, which contained high levels of probiotics, is not available in stores. These results suggest, however, that probiotics in general offer people with PD a safe option to try — alongside drinking enough fluids and taking in fiber — for dealing with constipation.

Note, PDF recommends that people with Parkinson’s disease who have questions about probiotics or which ones are best to use, consult their doctors.

http://www.pdf.org/en/science_news/release/pr_1472065716?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news