Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Supplementation with non-viable Lactobacillus gasseri was associated with significant improvement in gut function and intestinal environment.
Gut microbiota are essential to health and well-being. Research thus far has demonstrated links between disease and our microbial populations. Supplementation with specific strains such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium has shown beneficial effects including suppressing harmful bacterial populations, possibly preventing infection, cancer, and allergy, maintain healthy microbial balance, and preventing oxalate related disease. 1-3 Less studied than probiotics, however, are the effects of supplementing with non-viable cells or cellular components of beneficial bacteria. Compared to probiotics, non-viable cells of beneficial strains could provide the same benefits as the live strains but provide a much longer shelf-life. 4,5 Research on non-viable Enterococcus faecalis cells demonstrated their ability to modify metabolic functions in adults with obese tendencies. 6 However, few studies have researched the effects of non-viable lactobacilli. In the current study, researchers demonstrated the beneficial effects of non-viable Lactobacilllus gasseri (CP2305) on gut regulation. 7
In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, 120 participants were randomized to placebo (n=60) or treatment group (n=60) receiving 1×1010 counts of CP2305 powder in water. Apart from the pasteurized CP2305 powder, both the treatment and placebo beverage had the same formula (high-fructose corn syrup, powdered skim milk, lactic acid, soybean polysaccharide, pectin, sodium citrate, flavors, and sweeteners) and same caloric count (51 kcal/d). Each assigned beverage was to be consumed daily during the intervention period. The experimental period consisted of 2 weeks of observation followed by 3 weeks of intervention then 2 weeks of post-observation. During the 7 weeks of the study, participants maintained a daily record of their current diet and exercise routines, stool diary, frequency of bowel movements, abdominal symptoms, feeling after defecation, and stool characteristics (color, form, output, and intensity of odor). Anthropometric measurements, bloodwork, and urinalysis were taken at the end of observation (week 0) and at the end of the intervention period (week 3). Investigators assessed stool characteristics, fecal microbiota, organic acids, and putrefactive products at week 0, week 3, and at the end of the post-observation period (week 5).
In the end, 118 participants remained: 59 in the placebo group and 59 in the treatment. CP2305 supplementation significantly increased the number of bowel movements in participants with constipation (rigid-type fecal characteristics; p=0.019). CP2305 supplementation also improved fecal odor (p=0.04). Participants supplemented with CP2305 also so significant reduction in putrefactive products such as p-cresol (p=0.013) and tyrosine metabolites, however not significant compared to placebo (p=0.056). A significant increase in Bifidobacterium was observed during CP2305 ingestion (p<0.008) as well along with a significant decrease in Clostridium cluster IV population (p<0.003). Researchers also saw a significant increment in Bifidobacterim population (P<0.01) and a significant reduction in Clostridium cluster IV population (p<0.05) in the CP2305 group. This effect was not seen in the placebo group. Autonomous nervous activity was significantly reduced with CP2305 supplementation (p=0.04) as well as heart rate (p=0.0015). Side effects observed from both the placebo group and the CP2305 group were transient diarrhea (placebo=4, CP2305=2) and constipation (placebo=2, CP2305=1). However, it was determined that those symptoms were not attributed to the study beverages consumed.
Overall, 3 weeks supplementation with non-viable CP2305 improved intestinal environment and gut function in healthy participants with a tendency toward frequent bowel movements or constipation. Researchers surmised that non-viable CP2305 cells behave like soluble fibers and possibly possess peptides that elicit a bifidogenic effect. They also note this as the first study to observe the beneficial effects of non-viable Lactobacillus cells. Therefore, more studies are needed to confirm and determine physiologically how these benefits may have been achieved.
Source: Sugawara, Tomonori, Daisuke Sawada, Yu Ishida, Kotaro Aihara, Yumeko Aoki, Isao Takehara, Kazuhiko Takano, and Shigeru Fujiwara. “Regulatory effect of paraprobiotic Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 on gut environment and function.” Microbial ecology in health and disease 27, no. 1 (2016): 30259.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
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Posted September 30, 2019.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
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- Sugawara T, Sawada D, Ishida Y, et al. Regulatory effect of paraprobiotic Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 on gut environment and function. Microbial ecology in health and disease. 2016;27(1):30259.
