Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NK-1 on stool frequency and volume in healthy individuals with infrequent bowel movements: a randomized, placebo, placebo controlled, double-blind study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v8i9.545Abstract
Background: Constipation and other symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort, such as abdominal swelling, are common among healthy individuals and have a significant impact on quality of life. Despite the known contribution of gut microbiomes to this pathology, little is known regarding which groups of microorganisms play a key role. Yeasts have been used for fermenting foods since ancient times. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a type of yeast used for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes in the genetic and medical fields because it is unicellular with a simple biological structure. Yeast also helps improve the intestinal environment. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of foods containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae on bowel movement and to validate the safety of its long-term usage. Stool frequency and consistency were also assessed.
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. The test food contained S. cerevisiae NK-1 powder (1 × 1010 cells), whereas the placebo did not contain it. The food was made into sticks and provided to healthy individuals with infrequent bowel movements (3–5 movements a week), three times a day for 12 weeks. Then we investigated the changes in stool frequency, volume, and other adverse events.
Results: The number of days with bowel movement significantly increased in the test group compared with the placebo group after 8–12 weeks of consuming the test food (p < 0.05). Based on the blood test results, there were no adverse events associated with the consumption of the test food observed.
Conclusions: Consumption of the test food regulated intestinal function by promoting defecation in healthy individuals prone to constipation. Thus, S. cerevisiae NK-1 helps facilitate smoother defecation.
Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisiae NK-1, bowel movement, stool frequency volume, gastrointestinal discomfort
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Any manuscripts or substantial parts of it, submitted to the journal must not be under consideration by or previously published in any other journal or citable form. Authors are required to ensure that no material submitted as part of a manuscript infringes existing copyrights or the rights of a third party. In submitting one's article in any form, the author has assigned the FFC publishing rights and has agreed to an automatic transfer of the copyright to the publisher. This is so that the FFC may create print option journals, for example, at the FFC’s discretion. If the author wishes to distribute their works by means outside of the FFC, for example within their community, they will have to place a request.
Correspondence concerning articles published in Functional Foods in Health and Disease is encouraged. While derivative works (adaptations, extensions on the current work, etc.) are allowed, distribution of the modified material is not allowed without permission from the FFC.