Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
In the guidance for evaluating health claims on foods related to gut and immune function published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), it is stated that softer stool is a beneficial effect for our health, provided it does not result in diarrhoea. In previous studies, it was observed that continuous consumption of the fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (Yakult®) contributed to reducing the incidence of hard stools by softening stools. In addition, when focused on the participants who frequently produced hard stools, the frequency of softer stools (not diarrhoea) was significantly increased in the Yakult® group than in the placebo group. The results can be evidence to show the efficacy of Yakult®, but there remains several issues to be solved. In the previous studies, the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) was used to evaluate the change of stool hardness. This scale was originally validated as a surrogate measure for gastrointestinal transit time, and was also admitted as a validated questionnaire to evaluate stool hardness. However, the evaluation by the BSFS is subjective and affected by a participant’s feeling in defecation because the questionnaire is filled out by the participant him/herself. Recently a new method to directly measure stool hardness was validated using a texture analyser (TA.XT Express Texture Analyser; Stable Micro Systems Ltd.). This new method can be used to obtain objective and reproducible data of changes in stool hardness over time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of Yakult® on stool hardness using the texture analyser and find out whether Yakult® consumption has a beneficial effect.
Who can participate?
Healthy volunteers aged 18-65 who frequently produce hard stools
What does the study involve?
The BSFS data is collected from all participants for 2 weeks. Then, participants who frequently produce hard stools (BSFS 1 and 2 stools with the frequency of 50% or more) are randomly allocated to the probiotic group or the placebo group so that the proportion of gender, age and potentially BMI are equal within both groups. Participants in the probiotic group are asked to consume one bottle of fermented milk containing LcS daily for 8 weeks. Participants in the placebo group are asked to consume one bottle of placebo (non-fermented milk without LcS) daily for 8 weeks. All participants are asked to collect stool samples at three timepoints (before probiotic/placebo consumption, and 4 and 8 weeks after starting probiotic/placebo consumption) for three consecutive days (72 hours), and to record BSFS data for all defecations using an online questionnaire until the end of the study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants in the probiotic group might produce softer stools. There are no risks of taking part in this study. Yakult® has a history of safe use in the European population for more than 20 years. Therefore, it’s safe for the participants to consume Yakult® or the placebo.
Where is the study run from?
SGS Life Sciences Clinical Pharmacology Unit Antwerpen (Belgium) and AZ Sint-Maarten (Belgium)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2018 to March 2020
Who is funding the study?
Yakult Honsha European Research Centre for Microbiology ESV (Japan)
Who is the main contact?
1. Satoshi Tsujibe
satoshi.tsujibe@yher.be
2. Dr Takuya Takahashi
takuya.takahashi@yher.be
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Junji Fujimoto
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7009-4685
Contact details
Technologiepark 94 bus 3
Gent-Zwijnaarde
9052
Belgium
+32 (0)9 241 11 34
junji.fujimoto@yher.be
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Mr Satoshi Tsujibe
ORCID ID
Contact details
Technologiepark 94 bus 3
Gent-Zwijnaarde
9052
Belgium
+32 (0)9 241 11 34
satoshi.tsujibe@yher.be
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
YHER19-SGS
Study information
Scientific title
Evaluation of the impact of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on stool consistency
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Daily consumption of a fermented milk containing LcS produces softer stools than daily consumption of a placebo (non-fermented milk without LcS).
Ethics approval
Approved 24/05/2019, Commissie voor Medische Ethiek ZNA (ZNA Koningin Paola Kinderziekenhuis, Lindendreef 1, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium; Tel: +32 (0)3/280 34 29 or +32 (0)3/280 34 28; Email: ethische.commissie@zna.be)
Study design
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group multi-centre study with two arms
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised parallel trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
No participant information sheet available
Condition
Stool consistency
Intervention
Sixty four healthy subjects who frequently produce hard stool (Bristol Stool Form Scale score 1 and 2 stools with the frequency of 50% or more during 2 weeks of the screening data collection period) will be randomised to the probiotic group or the placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. Subjects in the probiotic group will receive one bottle of fermented milk containing LcS daily for 8 weeks. Subjects in the placebo group will receive one bottle of placebo (non-fermented milk without LcS) daily for 8 weeks.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Stool consistency measured by the texture analyser (TA.XT Express Texture Analyser) before consumption of investigational product (IP), and 4 and 8 weeks after starting IP consumption
Secondary outcome measures
1. Bowel habit and stool consistency measured using the Bristol Stool Form Scale score for all defecations using online questionnaire from after allocation until the end of the study
Measured from stool samples collected before consumption of investigational product (IP), and 4 and 8 weeks after starting IP consumption:
2. Stool amount measured by weighing
3. Stool water content measured by subtracting dried stool weight from raw stool weight
4. Stool pH measured directly using pH meter InLab®Solids
5. Stool mucin, stool lipids and stool bile acids measured by commercial ELISA kits
6. Stool microbiota analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing method
7. Stool organic acids and stool putrefactive substances measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)
Overall trial start date
01/10/2018
Overall trial end date
31/03/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Informed consent obtained before any study-related activities
2. Healthy female or male aged 18–65 years (inclusive)
3. Produces hard stool (BS1 and 2 stools), with a frequency of 50% or more during 2 weeks of screening data period
4. Does not take probiotics 2 weeks before the start of screening data collection. If the patient takes probiotics, a washout period of 2 weeks is needed
5. Is willing and able to collect every stool at home during 3 consecutive days and this 3 times during the treatment period, to store the samples in appropriate conditions and to return the samples within the required timeframe
6. Is willing and able to complete a diary during the screening, baseline and treatment period in order to collect information about the form of the stools (based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale classification) and bowel habit
7. Prepared not to change the current drinking, eating, smoking and exercising habits during the course of the study
8. Understands the Dutch or English language (reading, writing, speaking)
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
64 participants (probiotic group: 32 participants, placebo group: 32 participants)
Total final enrolment
64
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Language barrier, mental or legal incapacity, unwillingness or inability to understand or not being able to participate in the study
2. Is vegetarian or vegan
3. Is treated (i.e., currently treated, treated within 1 month before screening) by a doctor for her/his constipation
4. Has any history of gastrointestinal surgery except for appendectomy
5. Has any history of chronic/severe gastrointestinal disorders
6. Females of childbearing potential who are pregnant, breastfeeding or intend to become pregnant or are not using adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., oral contraceptive, condom, intrauterine device, abstinence)
7. Is unable to refrain from or anticipates the use of antibiotics and/or laxatives
8. Has any history of drug and/or alcohol abuse
9. Has milk allergies
10. Is intolerant to lactose
11. Any clinically significant disease which in the Investigator’s opinion could interfere with the safety of study participants or with the results of the study
12. Use of disallowed concomitant medications and concomitant products within 2 weeks before the screening period, depending if a wash out period for probiotics is needed
13. Cancer (past or present, except basal cell skin cancer or squamous cell skin cancer), which in the Investigator’s opinion could interfere with the results of the study
14. Previous participation in this study. Participation is defined as screened. Re-screening is therefore not allowed
15. Participation in another interventional clinical study or receipt of any investigational product within 1 month before the screening period
Recruitment start date
12/06/2019
Recruitment end date
23/08/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Belgium
Trial participating centre
SGS Life Sciences Clinical Pharmacology Unit Antwerpen
Lange Beeldekensstraat 267
Antwerpen
2060
Belgium
Trial participating centre
AZ Sint-Maarten
Liersesteenweg 435
Mechelen
2800
Belgium
Sponsor information
Organisation
Yakult Honsha European Research Centre for Microbiology ESV
Sponsor details
Technologiepark 94 bus 3
Gent-Zwijnaarde
9052
Belgium
+32 (0)9 241 11 34
junji.fujimoto@yher.be
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
Yakult Honsha
Alternative name(s)
Yakult
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
For-profit companies (industry)
Location
Japan
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Publication is planned in a peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.
Intention to publish date
31/12/2020
Participant level data
Other
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list