Multi-strain probiotics improve bowel movements in patients with Parkinson’s disease

This study investigated the effectiveness of the probiotic combination Hexbio in the treatment of gut symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Researchers suggested that these probiotics improved gut outcomes over 8 weeks of treatment.

PD is a chronic disease that affects the brain cells. The body functions controlled by these cells are lost which causes symptoms such as tremors, impaired walking. Constipation (reduced bowel movements) is also very common in patients with PD. It is present in 80 to 90% of patients with PD.

Treatment with probiotics consists of introducing different healthy bacteria into the gut. Hexbio is a probiotics combination. It contains a specific microbial cell preparation with 6 different types of healthy bacteria. Prior studies showed that probiotics improve belly bloating and pain, feces consistency and frequency, and frequency of bowel movements. However, no studies have investigated if Hexbio improves gut transit times in patients with PD.

This study included information about 48 patients with PD and constipation. All participants were assigned to receive either probiotics (Hexbio; group 1) or placebo (group 2) twice daily for 8 weeks. The main outcomes measured were changes in the presence of constipation, gut transit time, quality of life, and PD symptoms.

At 8 weeks, the average bowel opening frequency improved in group 1 when compared to group 2. Group 1 was 5.48 times more likely of having a better bowel opening frequency compared to group 2. 

The gut transit time in group 1 (77.32 hours) was significantly reduced when compared to placebo (113.54 hours). The average change in gut transit time in group 1 was 58.05 hours and in group 2 was 20.73 hours. No significant differences were seen in PD and quality of life.

In group 1, 4 patients reported mild side effects such as bloating and dizziness.

This study concluded that Hexibio probiotics improved bowel movements in patients with PD and constipation. 

This study used a questionnaire to assess constipation-related symptoms, rather than constipation severity. This might not have captured improvements in constipation severity, which might affect the results. Further studies are needed.