Bacillus coagulans

Bacillus coagulans is a spore-forming bacterium that is gaining increasing importance in probiotics research. Unlike classic lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bacillus coagulans forms heat-stable spores that can pass through the digestive tract and become activated there. It is valued above all for its potential health benefits in supporting gut health and immune function (1,2).

What benefits does Bacillus coagulans offer?

Although research has not yet produced conclusive results, several studies currently point to various possible applications of Bacillus coangulans:

  • Digestive support: In studies, Bacillus Coangulans was able to have a supportive effect in antibiotic-induced diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and inflammatory bowel diseases (3,4,5,6).
  • Strengthening the immune system: In investigations, Bacillus coangulans showed that it could promote the activity of immune cells and regulate inflammatory processes (7,8).
  • Reduction of harmful bacteria: Studies show that Bacillus coagulans can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria (9,).

How does Bacillus coagulans work?

The health effects are attributed to the production of lactic acid and other bioactive substances:

  • Probiotic properties: Bacillus coagulans appears to support a healthy gut flora by promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms (5).
  • Spore formation: The heat-resistant spores survive the gastrointestinal tract and exert their effect directly in the gut (10,11,12).
  • Bacteriocins: Substances such as coagulin have antimicrobial effects and could thus potentially have an inhibitory effect on harmful microorganisms (13).

Recommended Intake

The recommended dosage varies depending on the preparation and area of application. Studies suggest that daily doses in the range of several billion colony-forming units (CFU) could be effective (14,15). Products should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions or after consulting a physician.

Risks and Side Effects

  • Safety: Bacillus coagulans is generally considered safe (GRAS status); however, there are no comprehensive long-term studies on safety in pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • Interactions: Antibiotics could impair the effectiveness of Bacillus coagulans, which is why a time interval between intakes is recommended.
  • Immunomodulation: In individuals with autoimmune diseases or undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, use should only take place under medical supervision.

Conclusion

Bacillus coagulans is a versatile probiotic with potential benefits for gut health and the immune system. The scientific evidence is growing, yet large-scale clinical trials are still lacking to conclusively evaluate its effectiveness and safety in various areas of application. Consulting a physician before intake is particularly advisable in the case of existing health problems.

Sources:

  1. Duc, L. H., Hong, H. A., Barbosa, T. M., et al. (2004). Characterization of Bacillus probiotics available for human use. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70(4), 2161–2171.
  2. Hyronimus, B., Le Marrec, C., & Urdaci, M. C. (1998). Coagulin, a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance produced by Bacillus coagulans. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 85(1), 42–50.
  3. Donskey, C. J., Hoyen, C. K., Das, S. M., et al. (2001). Effect of oral Bacillus coagulans administration on the density of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the stool of colonized mice. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 33(2), 84–88.
  4. Gupta AK, Maity C. Efficacy and safety of Bacillus coagulans LBSC in irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, interventional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study [CONSORT Compliant]. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 22;100(3):e23641. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023641. PMID: 33545934; PMCID: PMC7837859.
  5. Cao, Jiang & Yu, Zhiming & Liu, Wenyin & Zhao, Jianxin & Zhang, Hao & Zhai, Qixiao & Chen, Wei. (2019). Probiotic characteristics of Bacillus coagulans and associated implications for human health and diseases. Journal of Functional Foods. 64. 103643. 10.1016/j.jff.2019.103643.
  6. Gupta AK, Maity C. Efficacy and safety of Bacillus coagulans LBSC in irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, interventional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study [CONSORT Compliant]. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 22;100(3):e23641. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023641. PMID: 33545934; PMCID: PMC7837859.
  7. Jensen GS, Cash HA, Farmer S, Keller D. Inactivated probiotic Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 induces complex immune activating, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative markers in vitro. J Inflamm Res. 2017 Aug 7;10:107-117. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S141660. PMID: 28848360; PMCID: PMC5557913.
  8. Czaczyk, K., Trojanowska, K., & Mueller, A. (2002). Antifungal activity of Bacillus coagulans against Fusarium sp. Acta Microbiologica Polonica, 51(3), 275–283.
  9. Gao, Xiaoxi & Yu, Jie & Chang, Lixuan & Wang, Yunchao & Sun, Xinping & Mu, Guangqing & Qian, Fang. (2023). In vitro antibacterial activity of Bacillus coagulans T242 on Caco-2 cells infected with Salmonella Typhimurium. Food Bioscience. 52. 102512. 10.1016/j.fbio.2023.102512.
  10. Mirmajidi, S. H., Irajie, C., Savardashtaki, A., Nezafat, N., Morowvat, M. H., & Ghasemi, Y. (2024). Optimization of Spore Production in Bacillus coagulans Using Response Surface Methodology Approach. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, 10.1007/s12010-024-04934-2. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-024-04934-2
  11. OHYE DF, MURRELL WG. Formation and structure of the spore of Bacillus coagulans. J Cell Biol. 1962 Jul;14(1):111-23. doi: 10.1083/jcb.14.1.111. PMID: 14481435; PMCID: PMC2106094.
  12. Achinna, Poshadri & Deshpande, H.W.. (2022). Bacillus Coagulans and its Spore as Potential Probiotics in the Production of Novel Shelf- Stable Foods. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal. 10. 2022.
  13. Hyronimus, B., Le Marrec, C., & Urdaci, M. C. (1998). Coagulin, a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance produced by Bacillus coagulans I4. Journal of applied microbiology, 85(1), 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.1998.00466.x
  14. Majeed M, Nagabhushanam K, Natarajan S, Sivakumar A, Ali F, Pande A, Majeed S, Karri SK. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 supplementation in the management of diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a double blind randomized placebo controlled pilot clinical study. Nutr J. 2016 Feb 27;15:21. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0140-6. PMID: 26922379; PMCID: PMC4769834.