{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T18:36:53Z","timestamp":1777055813615,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776988800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"ILDONG Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a spore-forming probiotic blend containing\n                    <jats:italic>Clostridium butyricum<\/jats:italic>\n                    IDCC 1301,\n                    <jats:italic>Weizmannia coagulans<\/jats:italic>\n                    IDCC 1201, and\n                    <jats:italic>Bacillus subtilis<\/jats:italic>\n                    IDCC 1101 for improving bowel function and well-being in adults with functional constipation (FC). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 78 adults with FC (Rome IV criteria) received either probiotic blend (n\u2009=\u200940) or placebo (n\u2009=\u200938) daily for 4 weeks. Primary outcomes were changes in weekly spontaneous bowel movements (WSBM) and stool form. Secondary outcomes included physical functioning scores from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The probiotic blend group showed significant improvements in irritant bowel movements (p\u2009=\u20090.0458), incomplete evacuation (p\u2009=\u20090.0374), and abdominal pain before defecation (p\u2009=\u20090.0090). Stool consistency shifted toward normal types (Bristol types 3\u20134, p\u2009=\u20090.0176). Physical functioning improved only in the probiotic blend group (p\u2009=\u20090.0300). Probiotic blend effectively alleviated symptoms of FC and improved physical well-being. Trial registration: Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), KCT0010085.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0337019","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T17:42:55Z","timestamp":1777052575000},"page":"e0337019","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of a spore-forming probiotic blend on bowel habits and physical well-being in adults with functional constipation: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-8764-6178","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Hyung Gyu","family":"Park","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1885-6128","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Han 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