Bacillus Coagulans

 

 What is it?

Bacillus coagulans is a type of bacteria. It is used similarly to lactobacillus and other probiotics as "beneficial" bacteria.

People take Bacillus coagulans for diarrhea, including infectious types such as rotaviral diarrhea in children; traveler's diarrhea; and diarrhea caused by antibiotics. Bacillus coagulans is also used for general digestion problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), a bowel disorder called Clostridium difficile colitis, excessive growth of "bad" bacteria in the intestine, and infection due to the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

Some people use Bacillus coagulans to prevent respiratory infections and ramp up the immune system. It is also used to prevent cancer or the formation of cancer-causing agents. There is also some interest in using it as an additive to vaccines to improve their effectiveness.

Bacillus coagulans produces lactic acid and, as a result, is often misclassified as lactic acid bacteria such as lactobacillus. In fact, some commercial products containing Bacillus coagulans are marketed as Lactobacillus sporogenes or "spore-forming lactic acid bacterium." Unlike lactic acid bacteria such as lactobacillus or bifidobacteria, Bacillus coagulans forms reproductive structures called spores. Spores are actually an important factor in telling Bacillus coagulans apart from lactic acid bacteria.

How effective is it?

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

The effectiveness ratings for BACILLUS COAGULANS are as follows:

Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for...

• Diarrhea. Including viral diarrhea in children, traveler's diarrhea, and diarrhea caused by antibiotics.
• Growth of bacteria in the intestine. Early evidence shows that using a specific probiotic product (Lactol, Bioplus Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., India) containing Bacillus coagulans and fructo-oligosaccharides twice daily for 15 days per month for 6 months might modestly decrease stomach pain and gas in people with of potentially harmful bacteria in the intestine.
• Helicobacter pylori infection. Which causes stomach ulcers.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).
• As an agent added to vaccines to improve their effectiveness.
• Cancer prevention.
• Clostridium difficile colitis.
• Digestion problems.
• Immune system strengthening.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Respiratory infections.

More evidence is needed to rate Bacillus coagulans for these uses. There has been no reliable research done in people.

How does it work?

There is not enough information to know how Bacillus coagulans might work for medical purposes. Some research in animals (but not yet in humans) shows that Bacillus coagulans might increase immune system function and decrease harmful bacteria.

Are there safety concerns?

Bacillus coagulans is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth. Some research in people has shown that Bacillus coagulans can be safely used by adults for up to 6 months.

Special precautions & warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Pregnant or breast-feeding women should stay on the safe side and avoid using Bacillus coagulans.

Are there interactions with medications?

Anitibiotic drugs

Antibiotics are used to reduce harmful bacteria in the body. Antibiotics can also reduce other bacteria in the body. Taking antibiotics along with Bacillus coagulans might reduce the potential benefits of Bacillus coagulans. To avoid this potential interaction, take Bacillus coagulans products at least 2 hours before or after antibiotics.

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)

Bacillus coagulans might increase the activity of the immune system. Taking Bacillus coagulans along with medications that decrease the immune system's activity might decrease the effectiveness of these medications.
Some medications that decrease the immune system's activity include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.

Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Are there interactions with foods?

There are no known interactions with foods.

What dose is used?

The appropriate dose of Bacillus coagulans depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Bacillus coagulans. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Other names

B. Coagulans, Bacillus Bacteria, Bacillus Probiotics, Bactéries Bacilles, Bactéries à Gram Positif Sporogènes, Bactérie Gram Positive en Forme de Bâtonnet, Gram Positive Spore-Forming Rod, L. Sporogenes, Lactobacillus Sporogenes, Lactobacillus Sporogènes, Probiotic, Probiotique, Spore-Forming Lactobacillus.

Methodology

To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology.

References

1. Khalighi AR, Khalighi MR, Behdani R, et al. Evaluating the efficacy of probiotic on treatment in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)--a pilot study. Indian J Med Res. 2014 N ov;140:604-8. View abstract.
2. Czaczyk K, Tojanowska K, Mueller A. Antifungal activity of Bacillus coagulans against Fusarium sp. Acta Microbiol Pol 2002;51:275-83. View abstract.
3. Donskey CJ, Hoyen CK, Das SM, et al. Effect of oral Bacillus coagulans administration on the density of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the stool of colonized mice. Lett Appl Microbiol 2001;33:84-8. View abstract.
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8. McGroarty JA. Probiotic use of lactobacilli in the human female urogenital tract. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 1993;6:251-64. View abstract.
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