Can Probiotics Help With Constipation?

Can Probiotics Help With Constipation?

Anyone who’s suffered from constipation knows how difficult it can be to get your gastrointestinal tract back on track, and if you’re currently experiencing constipation, you’re not alone. Studies show that constipation is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, with a prevalence in the general population of approximately 20%. 

But this doesn’t mean we have to endure this uncomfortable condition forever! We can take steps to support our digestive system and experience more frequent, healthy bowel movements.

Vegan Probiotics can help alleviate constipation by restoring bacterial balance in the gut and improving gastrointestinal function. We can take probiotic supplements to ensure we ingest enough of the live bacteria necessary to prevent constipation and other gastrointestinal issues.

If you’re interested in learning more about what causes constipation and how probiotics can help, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the information you need to determine probiotics' role in supporting your digestive system and regulating your bowel movements.

What causes constipation?

To understand how probiotics help constipation, we first need to know what constipation is and what causes this condition.

Being constipated means your bowel movements are happening less regularly than usual. Generally, constipation is characterized by having less than three bowel movements a week.

But what causes this uncomfortable and sometimes even painful ailment? Many different factors can contribute to constipation, and it’s essential to know which one may be the source of our discomfort.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. This condition can cause several gastrointestinal issues, constipation being a primary side effect.

Pregnancy

Because of hormonal changes, pregnant women can become more susceptible to experiencing slower digestion and experience constipation as a result. 

Childhood constipation

Constipation in children is considered especially common and can result from a poor diet, lack of exercise, or mental/emotional stress.

Constipation in the elderly

Older adults often suffer from constipation for the same reasons children do, but underlying diseases or certain medications can also support this demographic’s stools.

How do probiotics help constipation?

Now that we know some of the common causes behind constipation, we may be wondering: how can probiotics possibly work to reduce constipation in all of these cases?

Probiotics offer many essential health benefits, including restoring balance to the gut and maintaining gut health. 

This is significant as multiple studies have shown that gut microbiota may contribute to reduced gut transit time and different types of constipation. 

But let’s discuss how probiotics work for each of the conditions we’ve mentioned above.

Numerous studies have tested the effects of probiotics on constipation in IBS patients and found that probiotic supplementation reduced pain and the severity of symptoms. 

This indicates that probiotic therapy may be an effective solution for IBS, as it increases gut motility, balances bacterial overgrowth, and reduces inflammation in the intestinal tract.

The role of probiotics in altering microbiota and improving bowel function can also be helpful for pregnant women, a group at an increased risk of feeling constipated.

 One study, for example, tested the effects of probiotic yogurt on pregnant women and concluded that it played a significant role in improving the symptoms of constipation.

Probiotics are also safe for children suffering from constipation, as one study. showed that probiotics increased stool frequency and had overall beneficial effects in reducing symptoms of constipation in children.

Older age groups have experienced similar benefits, as another study determined that the administration of probiotics significantly improved constipation in elderly individuals by as much as 10-40%.

Best probiotics for constipation

While taking probiotics can help to regulate bowel movements, there are certain probiotic strains in particular that have been studied to improve constipation by balancing the gut microbiome.

Check your supplement bottle to ensure it contains any of these strains of probiotics for maximum effectiveness:

  • Bifidobacterium lactis
  • Bifidobacterium longum
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus 
  • Bacillus subtilis

Luckily, FuelOrganics makes it easy to find a probiotic that’ll work for you by offering a high-quality vegan probiotic filled with beneficial bacteria that restores gut health and aids the functioning of the digestive tract.

More tips for relieving constipation

Probiotics can play an important role in aiding with digestion and preventing constipation, but they aren’t the only solution to this uncomfortable problem.

There are a variety of diet and lifestyle changes we can make to relieve and prevent constipation by supporting digestive health, some of which include:

  • Eat a diet rich in fiber
  • Drink more water
  • Exercise regularly
  • Drink coffee
  • Avoid dairy products

Final thoughts

Constipation is an uncomfortable and painful condition, but we aren’t helpless against it. We can take probiotics to improve the function of our digestive system, and find relief from constipation as a result.

So if you’ve been having trouble with your bowel movements, there’s no reason to keep suffering. Adding a probiotic supplement to your diet can alleviate constipation symptoms and give you the relief that you and your digestive system need. 

Lastly have you ever wondered why you might want to take Probiotics With Antibiotics? if so, read more about it here

Trusted sources

  1. Vazquez Roque, M., & Bouras, E. P. (2015). Epidemiology and management of chronic constipation in elderly patients. Clinical interventions in aging, 10, 919–930. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S54304
  2. Ohkusa, T., Koido, S., Nishikawa, Y., & Sato, N. (2019). Gut Microbiota and Chronic Constipation: A Review and Update. Frontiers in medicine, 6, 19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2019.00019
  3. Didari, T., Mozaffari, S., Nikfar, S., & Abdollahi, M. (2015). Effectiveness of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome: Updated systematic review with meta-analysis. World journal of gastroenterology, 21(10), 3072–3084. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v21.i10.3072
  4. Mirghafourvand, M., Homayouni Rad, A., Mohammad Alizadeh Charandabi, S., Fardiazar, Z., & Shokri, K. (2016). The Effect of Probiotic Yogurt on Constipation in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal, 18(11), e39870. https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.39870
  5. Huang, R., & Hu, J. (2017). Positive Effect of Probiotics on Constipation in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Six Randomized Controlled Trials. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 7, 153. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00153
  6. Martínez-Martínez MI, Calabuig-Tolsá R, Cauli O. The effect of probiotics as a treatment for constipation in elderly people: A systematic review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2017 Jul;71:142-149. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.04.004. Epub 2017 Apr 14. PMID: 28467916.
Back to blog