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.

Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans) is a type of probiotic ("good" bacteria). It isn't naturally found in the body, but it produces lactic acid in the gut.

Because B. coagulans produces lactic acid, it's often misclassified as lactobacillus. Unlike lactobacillus, B. coagulans forms spores. Spores are important for telling B. coagulans apart from other lactic acid bacteria.

People take B. coagulans for constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is also used for diarrhea, gas, indigestion, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.

When taken by mouth:

B. coagulans is possibly safe. It's been used safely in doses of up to 6 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) daily for up to 3 months. Lower doses have been used safely for up to 1 year.

Special precautions & warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if B. coagulans is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: B. coagulans is possibly safe when taken by mouth by infants and children. It's been used safely in infants in doses of up to 100 million CFUs daily for up to one year.

Taking antibiotics along with B. coagulans can reduce the effects of B. coagulans. To avoid this interaction, take B. coagulans products at least 2 hours before or after antibiotics.

Disclaimer:

The manipulation of the gut microbiota is complex and may cause bacteria-host interactions. Although probiotics are considered safe, when they are used by oral administration there is a risk of passage of viable bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract to the internal organs (bacterial translocation) and subsequent bacteremia, which can cause adverse health consequences. Some people, such as those with immune compromise, short bowel syndrome, central venous catheters, cardiac valve disease and premature infants, may be at higher risk for adverse events.

Currently, the probiotic strain, frequency, dose and duration of the probiotic therapy are not established. Live bacteria might not be essential because of beneficial effects of probiotics seems to be mediated by their DNA and by secreted soluble factors, and their therapeutic effects may be obtained by systemic administration rather than oral administration.