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Probiotics for Constipation: What 14 Trials Found

Quick answer

Probiotics for constipation raised stool frequency by 1.3 bowel movements a week in a 2014 review of 14 trials with 1,182 patients. The effect was significant for Bifidobacterium lactis but not for Lactobacillus casei Shirota. The result is strain-specific and does not prove that any blend works.

Written by the Finessa label deskUpdated October 18, 2026 · 4 min read

An illustration of probiotic bacteria from the brand's image set. It is artwork, not a photo of the product.

The review01

Do probiotics help with constipation?

Somewhat, on average. The 2014 review screened 660 records, kept 14 randomized trials, and found 1.3 more bowel movements a week (95% CI 0.7 to 1.9) (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis).

Gut transit time fell by 12.4 hours, and stools softened. No serious adverse events were reported (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis).

Strains02

Does the strain matter for constipation?

Yes. The gain was significant for B. lactis, at 1.5 more movements a week, but not for L. casei Shirota, at minus 0.2 (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis).

Results from the 2014 review of 14 trials.
Group	Change in bowel movements a week
All probiotics pooled	+1.3
B. lactis	+1.5
L. casei Shirota	-0.2, not significant

The authors cite high heterogeneity and bias, and ask for better trials (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis). NCCIH found no benefit in children (NCCIH, Probiotics: usefulness and safety).

Doses03

How many CFU do trials use?

One strain trial used 1 and 10 billion CFU a day (Eskesen 2015, BB-12 doses and defecation frequency). A label weight in milligrams says nothing about live cells (NIH ODS, Probiotics fact sheet (CFU, label)).

The bars compare a scoop of Finessa with research amounts. The count on the panel is at manufacture, not at the end of shelf life.

Silymarin
36% of the low end

One scoop90 mg at most
Silymarin per dose in milk thistle products250-750 mg
Comparison source: (NCCIH, Milk thistle)
Artichoke extract
28% of the low end

One scoop112 mg at most
Daily dry leaf extract in an EU monograph400-1,320 mg
Comparison source: (EMA, Artichoke leaf (Cynara) herbal monograph)
Turmeric
45% of the low end

One scoop225 mg of powder at most
Daily turmeric in liver-injury reports500-1,000 mg
Comparison source: (LiverTox, Turmeric)
Probiotic count
Inside the studied range

One scoop5 billion on the panel (3 on the tub)
Daily doses of one strain in a bowel trial1-10 billion CFU
Comparison source: (Eskesen 2015, BB-12 doses and defecation frequency)

Blue bars: the most one scoop can hold of that ingredient, from the label-order arithmetic. Gold bars: daily amounts used in research. The label hides single amounts inside each blend, so the scoop figures are ceilings, not measured amounts. This is our arithmetic, not a lab test. Research amounts are for the whole herb or standardized extract named, and may differ from the form in the powder.

Finessa: from $39 a bottle50 scoops a tub · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 180-day guarantee

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Finessa04

Does this prove Finessa helps constipation?

No. Finessa is a supplement, not a constipation medicine, and no trial has tested it.

Its blend mixes many strains. Most constipation is handled with fiber, fluids and activity (NIDDK, Constipation treatment). Keep taking prescribed medicine, and see the side effects page.

Want to try Finessa? Six bottles ship free in the US, and every pack carries the 180-day guarantee.

3 bottles$147$49 a bottle · 90 days · + shippingGet 3 bottles

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Prices on the sales page, October 18, 2026 (Finessa sales page). Check your medicines with your doctor first.

FAQ05

Questions about probiotics and constipation

Which probiotic helped most in the review?

Bifidobacterium lactis, with 1.5 more bowel movements a week (95% CI 0.7 to 2.3). L. casei Shirota showed no significant change (Dimidi 2014, probiotics and functional constipation meta-analysis).

Do probiotics work for children?

NCCIH says a review of seven studies in 515 children found no evidence that any probiotic helped constipation (NCCIH, Probiotics: usefulness and safety).

Are probiotics safe?

They have a long record of safe use in healthy people, but harm is greater in people with severe illness or weak immune systems (NCCIH, Probiotics: usefulness and safety).

When is constipation a reason to see a doctor?

See one for blood in stool, constant belly pain, vomiting, fever or unexplained weight loss. NIDDK lists these as urgent signs (NIDDK, Constipation symptoms and causes).

Who wrote this06

Written and reviewed by

Written byThe Finessa label deskGofinessa, U.S. stocking partner for Finessa

Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.

Medically reviewed byDr. Maureen Leonard, MD, MMScRole: Medical reviewerReview date: October 19, 2026

Last updated October 18, 2026. Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Gofinessa, a U.S. stocking partner for Finessa, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.

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