Bacillus coagulans probiotic and gut bacteria in healthy adults
What it found
In healthy adults, a Bacillus coagulans probiotic supplement did not change the overall gut bacterial mix.
Some beneficial groups increased slightly, and no side effects were reported.
What they found
Studies in people
Overall gut bacteria
The overall mix of gut bacteria stayed largely the same in both groups. The balance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was maintained in those taking the probiotic.
Beneficial bacteria
Some beneficial bacteria groups, like Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Megasphaera, and Ruminococcus, increased in the probiotic group.
Probiotic detection
B. coagulans was found in stool samples before and after the study, but the numbers varied widely between people.
Safety and side effects
No side effects were reported. Blood tests, vital signs, and gut health questionnaires stayed normal in all participants.
What the authors conclude
“The present study results suggest that LactoSpore is safe for consumption and does not alter the gut microbiome of healthy individuals.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that LactoSpore is safe for consumption and does not alter the gut microbiome of healthy individuals.
- They state that minor changes in a few bacterial species may have a beneficial outcome in healthy individuals.
- They call for further studies on the effect of B. coagulans MTCC 5856 supplementation on microbiome modulation in individuals with gut dysbiosis.
How it was done
Probiotics are known to help rebalance gut bacteria in people with an imbalance, but their effect on healthy people is not well studied. The authors wanted to see what this probiotic does to the gut bacteria of healthy adults.
Thirty healthy Indian adults aged 25 to 55 took either a Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 capsule (2 billion colony-forming units) or a placebo once daily for 28 days. Stool samples were collected before and after to profile gut bacteria, and health and side effects were monitored.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study of 30 healthy adults over 28 days, so the results may not apply to other groups or longer periods.
- The study did not include a washout period, so it cannot show how long any changes might last.
- The study cannot show whether the minor bacterial changes lead to any health benefits.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors MM, KN, SP, LM, and SA are affiliated with Sami-Sabinsa Group Limited or Sabinsa Corporation. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
- Authors work at
- Divakars Speciality Hospital, India
The paper
- Title
- Probiotic modulation of gut microbiota by Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 in healthy subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-control study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Majeed M, Nagabhushanam K, Mundkur L, et al (2023). Probiotic modulation of gut microbiota by Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 in healthy subjects: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-control study. Medicine. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000033751Free full textPubMed 37335737DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error