Adjunctive efficacy of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 in alleviating functional constipation in children

According to a recent study, the administration of XLTG11 at a dosage of 1 × 1010 CFU per day to children resulted in an elevation in fecal frequency, brought about favorable alterations in gut microbiota, and effectively regulated short-chain fatty acid (SCF) genes and genes associated with methane metabolism. This study’s results were published in the Brazilian Journal of Microbiology. 
In this double-blinded, randomized trial, eligible children were divided into two groups: the intervention group (n = 65) received conventional treatment with probiotics, and the control group (n = 66) received conventional treatment without probiotics. The primary outcome measure focused on fecal frequency. To predict gene family abundances based on 16S information, fecal gut microbiota analysis and PICRUSt (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) were utilized.
During the treatment period, there was a significant increase in the weekly frequency of feces in each group (F = 41.97, p < 0.001). The frequency of feces (times/week (t/w)) in the intervention group was notably higher compared to the control group post-intervention (3.69 ± 2.62 t/w versus 3.18 ± 1.43 t/w for the first week, 4.03 ± 2.54 t/w versus 2.89 ± 1.39 t/w for the second week, 3.74 ± 2.36 t/w versus. 2.94 ± 1.18 t/w for the third week, and 3.45 ± 1.98 versus 3.17 ± 1.41 t/w for the fourth week) (F = 7.60, p = 0.0067). The dominant species shifted to Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, and Escherichia coli in the group that received the intervention. The genes associated with short-chain fatty acid metabolism were upregulated, while methane metabolism was downregulated.
The above study demonstrated that giving children XLTG11 at a daily dose of 1 × 1010 CFU resulted in more frequent bowel movements, brought about positive changes in gut microbiota, and effectively controlled SCFs genes and genes associated with methane metabolism.