Bacillus clausii for Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

The gut microbiota is intrinsically linked to human health; disturbances in microbial homeostasis are implicated in both intestinal and extraintestinal disorders. Probiotics are "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host," and many commercial preparations comprising a diverse range of species are available. While probiotics have been much researched, better understanding of the probiotic effects and applications of species such as Bacillus clausii is warranted. In this narrative literature review, we review the characteristics and mechanisms of action supporting B. clausii as a probiotic and discuss the evidence from clinical studies evaluating B. clausii probiotics for the management of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders and symptoms in children and adults. Finally, we highlight the challenges of future research and the need for more robust and diverse clinical evidence to guide physicians in the clinical application of probiotics for gastrointestinal disorders and other conditions.

Keywords: Bacillus clausii; Clinical trial; Diarrhea; Dysbiosis; Enterogermina; Gastrointestinal diseases; Gastrointestinal disorders; Microbiota.

Fig. 1

Potential mechanisms of action of B. clausii, based on in vitro and in vivo data. GI, gastrointestinal; IgG, Immunoglobulin G