Randomized trials evaluate probiotic effects on constipation symptoms in older adults, suggesting potential benefits.
Chronic constipation (CC) in older adults negatively impacts quality of life and previous research investigating the effects of probiotic intake on CC symptoms has been heterogeneous and inconclusive. To evaluate these effects in adults aged 60 and older with CC, 4 randomized controlled trials were obtained for review and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. Probiotic supplementation significantly increased the number of stools per week by 0.91 standard mean deviations compared to the control, indicating that 82% of individuals taking the probiotic supplementation would experience increased stool frequency. However, substantial heterogeneity complicates translating results into practice recommendations.
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Meyers et al. (2025) studied this question.
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