Physician's Choice

Can Probiotics Help With Constipation? What Trials and Guidelines Found

Q: Which probiotic strains were studied for constipation?

Bifidobacterium lactis strains such as DN-173 010, HN019 and Bi-07, plus L. casei Shirota, B. coagulans Unique IS2 and multi-strain mixtures. Of the groups the 2022 review analyzed, only B. lactis raised stool frequency.

Updated Oct 22, 2026 · 10 sources

Yes, some probiotics can, and the effect is modest. In a 2014 review of 14 trials with 1,182 adults with long-lasting constipation, probiotics added about 1.3 bowel movements a week, and Bifidobacterium lactis stood out.¹ Results depend on the strain, and the 2023 U.S. gastroenterology guideline on long-lasting constipation in adults did not assess probiotics.²

Key points

Three reviews found roughly one extra bowel movement a week in adults with long-lasting constipation: 1.3 (2014), 0.98 (2020) and 0.93 (2024).^1,3,4
Bifidobacterium lactis raised stool frequency in the 2014 and 2022 reviews; Lactobacillus casei Shirota did not in either.^1,5
The 2025 British Dietetic Association guidelines saw no convincing evidence for any specific strain, and advise a trial of at least 4 weeks.⁶
Fiber has firmer guideline support, with psyllium singled out by the 2023 U.S. and 2025 British guidelines.^2,6

Do probiotics help with constipation? What the reviews found

A little, in adults with long-lasting constipation. The 2014 review also found that food passed through the gut 12.4 hours faster.¹ A 2020 review of 15 trials found 0.98 more bowel movements a week and transit 13.75 hours faster, credited to products with two or more species rather than B. lactis alone.³

The largest review, from 2022, pooled 30 probiotic trials: 57% of people responded to a probiotic and 44% in control groups; stool frequency rose, stool consistency did not, and the authors flag high heterogeneity and risk of bias.⁵ A 2024 review of 17 studies, synbiotics included, found 0.93 more bowel movements a week, on evidence it rated low in quality.⁴

Which probiotic strains were studied for constipation?

Several, and Bifidobacterium lactis has the most consistent results. The 2025 British Dietetic Association guidelines found that B. lactis raised stool frequency across seven trials, while multi-strain mixtures, Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 and Lactobacillus casei Shirota did not, and they note that effects are strain-specific.⁶

Reviews and trials in adults with constipation. Sources read October 22, 2026.
Strain or group	Stool frequency	What else was found
B. lactis, seven strains, including DN-173 010, HN019 and Bi-07	Up in the 2014 and 2022 reviews; not significant alone in 2020^1,3,5	Moderate-quality evidence for the rise; no change in stool consistency or in how many people improved⁶
B. lactis HN019 alone, 8 weeks, 229 adults	No better than placebo⁷	Did not confirm earlier results, the authors say⁷
Lactobacillus casei Shirota	No change in 2014 or 2022^1,5	No effect on bloating⁶
Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2	No change in 2022⁵	Less frequent abdominal pain⁶
Multi-strain mixtures	Up in 2020; no change in 2022^3,5	Softer stools⁶
Bifidobacterium longum	Not significant alone in 2020³	The type most tested in a 2017 evaluation of 9 studies in older adults, which found a small but meaningful benefit for probiotics⁸

What do gastroenterology guidelines say about probiotics for constipation?

Neither guideline we read recommends a probiotic strain. The joint 2023 guideline of the American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology covers medicines and fiber for long-lasting constipation in adults; its panel did not assess probiotics and points to the 2022 review.^2,5 The 2025 British Dietetic Association guidelines say probiotics overall may help more people improve, but it is unclear which strains work.⁶

Do probiotics help you poop?

Slightly more often, in trials of adults with long-lasting constipation: about one more bowel movement a week than on placebo, 0.93 to 1.3 depending on the review.^1,3,4 Whether stools get softer is unsettled: the 2014 review found softer stools, the 2022 review found no change.^1,5

How long do probiotics take for regularity?

Plan on at least 4 weeks, following the maker’s directions: that is the trial period the 2025 British Dietetic Association guidelines suggest, as expert opinion. In the review behind them, trials ran 2 weeks or longer, and stool frequency results did not differ between trials shorter or longer than 4 weeks.⁶

Probiotics vs fiber for occasional constipation: which has the stronger case?

Fiber. The 2023 U.S. guideline suggests fiber supplements for long-lasting constipation (a conditional recommendation, low-certainty evidence), and finds its strongest data, still low in quality, for psyllium.² The 2025 British guidelines give psyllium strong recommendations, while every statement in favor of a probiotic is qualified.⁶ Those statements rate psyllium as an ingredient at the amounts their trials used, not any product.

Physician's Choice Fiber Gummies, Easy Mix Fiber and Psyllium Husk Fiber are made to support regularity and help with occasional constipation.‡ Adults get 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day, though exact targets depend on age and sex. Drink plenty of water and other liquids when you take a fiber supplement to help keep things moving.

For dose and timing, see how many fiber gummies a day; for gas by fiber type, see fiber that does not cause gas.

Where Physician’s Choice fits

Fiber Gummies. Two gummies give 5 g of dietary fiber, 18% of the Daily Value, and chicory root fiber is the first ingredient; adults chew 2 gummies daily.⁹ See the label.

60 Billion Probiotic. Bifidobacterium lactis, one of the species studied in the reviews above, is one of the 10 species on its label. The capsule holds 60 billion CFU; take 1 daily, with or without food.¹⁰ The match is by species only: the trials above tested particular strains on their own, not this formula. See the label.

For both: Every lot of every product is tested for purity and potency at ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs, the international standard for testing-lab competence.

Safety: who should check with a healthcare provider first

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are seriously ill, or have a weakened immune system, consult your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic or any other dietary supplement.

Our Kids line includes a Kids Chewable Probiotic, Fiber Gummies, and a Probiotic + Fiber Powder. These are the only Physician’s Choice products we recommend for children under 18, and each should be used according to its labeled age range and directions. Always consult your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider before starting a new supplement routine.

If you have known allergies, review the product’s ingredient list and allergen information and consult your healthcare provider before purchasing or using it. Most of our products are formulated without the top 9 common allergens, but ingredients vary by product.

According to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, probiotics are generally well tolerated by healthy people, though they may cause mild digestive symptoms, such as gas. Probiotics may not be appropriate for everyone, particularly people who are seriously ill or have weakened immune systems. Talk with your healthcare provider before use. Our 60 Billion Probiotic and Digestive Enzymes contain inulin, and our Fiber Gummies contain chicory root fiber; gut bacteria break down fibers like these, which can cause gas.

If constipation does not get better with changes to what you eat and drink, talk to your doctor. If bloating is persistent, severe, or feels different than usual, talk with your healthcare provider.

If you experience an adverse event, stop using the product and contact your healthcare provider immediately. Please also notify us at support@physicianschoice.com or 1-877-395-2707. Side effects in more detail: our side effects page.

Questions people ask

Can probiotics help with constipation?

Yes, some can, by a small margin: about one more bowel movement a week in trials of adults with long-lasting constipation, with Bifidobacterium lactis standing out. No guideline we read recommends a specific strain.

Which probiotic strains were studied for constipation?

Bifidobacterium lactis strains such as DN-173 010, HN019 and Bi-07, plus L. casei Shirota, B. coagulans Unique IS2 and multi-strain mixtures. Of the groups the 2022 review analyzed, only B. lactis raised stool frequency.

Do probiotics help you poop?

Slightly more often, in trials: about one more bowel movement a week than placebo, in adults with long-lasting constipation. The reviews disagree on whether stools get softer.

How long do probiotics take for regularity?

Plan on at least 4 weeks at the label directions, as the 2025 British Dietetic Association guidelines advise.

Are probiotics or fiber better for occasional constipation?

Fiber has the stronger guideline support, with psyllium singled out. Physician's Choice Fiber Gummies, Easy Mix Fiber and Psyllium Husk Fiber are made to support regularity and help with occasional constipation.‡

The short version

Some probiotics help with constipation, a little: about one more bowel movement a week in trials, with B. lactis the most consistent. Guidelines back fiber, especially psyllium, more firmly.

Sources

How this page was made

Sources fetched October 22, 2026. Label facts: our Fiber Gummies and 60 Billion Probiotic labels and product pages. Written by Physician’s Choice.

‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.