Probiotic supplementation decreases intestinal transit time: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Table 1 Study characteristics

Ref.	Study design	Active: control (n:n)	Transit timeoutcome, method	Probiotic strain	Daily dosage(109 cfu)	Delivery method	Treatmentduration (d)
Agrawal et al[14]	Parallel groups	17:17	CTT, radiopaque markers	B. lactis DN-173 010	25.0	Active: Yogurt + probioticControl: Nonfermented milk-based product	28
Bartram et al[15]	Cross-over	12	OATT, radiopaque markers	B. longum	> 0.5	Active: Yogurt with 2.5 g lactulose + probioticControl: Yogurt	21
Bouvier et al[16]	Parallel groups	36:36	CTT, radiopaque markers	B. lactis DN-173 010	97.5	Active: Probiotic fermented milkControl: Heat-treated probiotic fermented milk	11
Holma et al[17]	Parallel groups	12:10	TITT, radiopaque markers	L. rhamnosus GG	20	Active: Buttermilk + probiotic and white wheat breadControl: White wheat bread	21
Hongisto et al[18]	Parallel groups	16:14	TITT, radiopaque markers	L. rhamnosus GG	15	Active: Yogurt + probiotic and low fiber toastControl: Low fiber toast	21
Malpeli et al[19]	Cross-over	83	OCTT, carmine red dye	B. lactis BB12L. casei CRL 431	2-20 2-12	Active: Yogurt with 0.625 g inulin and oligofructose + probioticControl: Yogurt	15
Marteau et al[20]	Cross-over	32	CTT, radiopaque markers	B. lactis DN-173 010	18.75	Active: Yogurt + probioticControl: Yogurt	10
Rosenfeldt et al[21]	Cross-over	13	GTT, radiopaque markers	L. rhamnosus 19070-2,L. reuteri DSM 12246	20 20	Active: Freeze-dried powder + probioticControl: Skimmed milk powder w/dextrose	18
Rosenfeldt et al[21]	Cross-over	13	GTT, radiopaque markers	L. casei subsp. alactus CHCC 3137,L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis CHCC 2329,L. rhamnosus GG	20 20 20	Active: Freeze-dried powder + probioticControl: Skimmed milk powder w/dextrose	18
Sairanen et al[22]	Parallel groups	22:20	CTT, radiopaque markers	B. longum BB536, B. lactis 420,L. acidophilus 145	2.4-181 0.48	Active: Probiotic fermented milkControl: Fermented milk	21
Waller et al[23]	Parallel groups	33:34	WGTT; radiopaque markers	B. lactis HN019	1.8	Active: Capsule, maltodextrin, probioticControl: Capsule, maltodextrin	14
Waller et al[23]	Parallel groups	33:34	WGTT; radiopaque markers	B. lactis HN019	17.2	Active: Capsule, maltodextrin, probioticControl: Capsule, maltodextrin	14
Krammer et al[24]	Parallel groups	12:12	CTT, radiopaque markers	L. casei Shirota	6.5	Active: Probiotic fermented milk drinkControl: Nonfermented milk drink	28

¹Represents the reported range of total Bifidobacterium spp. cfu: Colony-forming units; CTT: Colonic transit time; GTT: Gastrointestinal transit time; OATT: Oro-anal transit time; OCTT: Oro-cecal transit time; TITT: Total intestinal transit time; WGTT: Whole gut transit time. L. rhamnosus: Lactobacillus rhamnosus; B. lactis: Bifidobacterium lactis; L. casei: Lactobacillus casei.