Bacillus Coagulans: The Probiotic Powerhouse

April 23, 2024 Bec Guild

It’s well established that probiotics can play a significant role in improving our digestive health and overall wellbeing.

What can be challenging for many of us, is deciding which probiotic is best suited to our needs. This is where a probiotic, with broad-spectrum activity that ticks a lot of boxes, can be an ideal, easy choice.

Thanks to its robust constitution and multi-action effects, Bacillus coagulans can outperform many of the common lactobacillus and bifidobacterium probiotics, making it an attractive choice when it comes to probiotic selection.

What is Bacillus Coagulans?

Bacillus coagulans was discovered in the early 1900’s, originally isolated from spoiled milk.

Also known as Lactobacillus sporogenes, it is a strain of probiotic bacteria that falls under the genus Bacillus. Unlike some other probiotics that are part of the Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium genera, what makes Bacillus coagulans so special is that it is a spore-forming bacterium (sometimes referred to as SFB’s). These spores are a probiotic ‘superpower’ as it makes them incredibly resilient, allowing them to survive harsh conditions such as high temperatures and stomach acidity. Bacillus coagulans is particularly effective at reaching our intestines intact.

Bacillus coagulans produces lactic acid, which helps create an optimal environment in the gut for the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting the growth of harmful ones. It can also help facilitate the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids such as butyric acid, a compound known to support the health and healing of cells in the small and large intestines and to contribute to the modulation of the mucosal immune system.

Bacillus Coagulans vs. Other Probiotic Strains

Bacillus coagulans offers several advantages compared to other probiotic strains and species:

Shelf Stability: As mentioned earlier, Bacillus coagulans is spore-forming, making it highly stable and resistant to environmental stressors. This means it can survive on the shelf for extended periods without the need for refrigeration, maintaining its viability.

High Survivability: Unlike other lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus coagulans can survive the harsh acidic environment of the stomach due to its protective outer layer of organic spore coating that can withstand the acidic pH of the stomach, ensuring that the probiotic reaches the intestines where it can have the most impact.

Efficacy: This probiotic strain has been shown to be effective in improving digestive health, alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and promoting a balanced gut microbiome.

Bacillus Coagulans Growing Body Of Research

Research supporting the wide-ranging benefits of Bacillus coagulans is growing. Here are a few examples of clinical studies:

One study exploring the effect of Bacillus coagulans in IBS sufferers showed that significant symptom improvements could be achieved in as little as 8 weeks. 18% of participants had total symptomatic relief and a further 64% had ‘considerable symptom relief’. Researchers concluded that Bacillus coagulans effectively reduced abdominal pain and other IBS-associated symptoms (bloating, incomplete evacuation, urgency, straining, passage of gas, bowel habit satisfaction, and stool consistency) in adults (18–60 years).
Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 40 IBS suffers showed that Bacillus coagulans significantly improved IBS-associated clinical symptoms like bloating and cramping, diarrhoea and constipation, stomach rumbling, nausea, vomiting, headache and anxiousness and abdominal pain from baseline compared to placebo.
A 2018 double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial was conducted with 40 people with IBS and depression to test the hypothesis that Bacillus coagulans can help in alleviating the symptoms of major depression in patients with IBS. After 90 days of treatment researchers reported that “overall, subjects receiving Bacillus coagulans reported a significant change/decrease in their depression clinical symptoms along with a decrease in IBS towards the end of the study in comparison to patients receiving placebo. Furthermore, in this study, it was noted that Bacillus coagulans was found to be beneficial for sleeplessness.
Because lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) probiotics have demonstrated immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory effects and the ability to lessen the symptoms of arthritis, a pilot study was conducted exploring whether it could improve the quality of life and pain in 45 men and women with rheumatoid arthritis. Overall in just 60 days of treatment, there was noticeable reductions to CRP (a blood marker of inflammation) and an improved ability to walk 2 miles, reach, and participate in daily activities suggesting that Bacillus coagulans could be a safe addition to approaches to pain management.
A study on the effects of Bacillus coagulans on functional constipation in human patients showed that the administration of B. coagulans could effectively relieve constipation, ameliorate the sensation of incomplete stool evacuation and improve the intestinal environment compared with the control group.
Another study has shown that Bacillus coagulans can significantly enhance the health of the cellular structures of the gut lining by downregulating inflammation, helping to improve nutrient absorption through optimisation of the absorptive area of the villi of the intestines.

Bacillus Coagulans and the Gut-Brain Connection

The gut-brain axis is a complex bidirectional communication system between the gut and the brain. Emerging research suggests that the gut microbiota, including probiotic strains like Bacillus coagulans, can influence not only digestive health but also cognitive function and the robustness of our mental wellbeing.

Bacillus coagulans contributes to the gut-brain connection by promoting a balanced gut microbiome. This balance is thought to play a crucial role in regulating mood and reducing the risk of anxiousness and depression states. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved, it is becoming increasingly clear that a healthy gut contributes to a healthy mind.

Overall, we see from the evidence that Bacillus coagulans is a probiotic strain with numerous advantages, including its shelf stability, survivability, efficacy in addressing digestive issues, and potential benefits for the gut-brain connection. With an ever-growing body of clinical evidence supporting its positive effects on health.

Whether your goal is to improve your digestion or enhance your overall wellbeing, Bacillus coagulans is a probiotic strain worth considering as an all-round performer when considering your probiotic choices.