Abstract:
Objective: Constipation is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder, necessitating sustainable and side-effect-free relief methods. Methods: This study investigated the efficacy of combined prebiotics in a loperamide-induced constipation mouse model. Further assessments included gut microbiota composition, fecal short-chain fatty acid levels, intestinal barrier-related markers, colonic tissue damage, and gastrointestinal regulatory neurotransmitters. Results: Combined prebiotics alleviated constipation by downregulating harmful bacteria (
Bilophila,
Anaerovorax) and upregulating beneficial bacteria (
Ileibacterium,
Bifidobacterium), thereby increasing excitatory gastrointestinal neurotransmitters (upregulating gastrin and substance P), improving the intestinal barrier (upregulating
mucin-2, occludin, and
stem cell factor mRNA expression while downregulating
aquaporin-3 mRNA expression), repairing colonic tissue damage, and elevating fecal acetate and butyrate levels. These changes led to a 27% reduction in time to first black stool excretion and 46% increase in fecal water content compared to the model group. When combined with prune juice, the prebiotics formulation further enhanced the abundance of beneficial bacteria (
Odoribacter,
Faecalibaculum,
Defluviitaleaceae_UCG-011), increased gastrin and motilin levels, decreased calcitonin gene-related peptide, upregulated
mucin-2 mRNA, elevated fecal acetate and butyrate, improved small intestinal propulsion rate, and increased fecal output within 5 hours, demonstrating superior constipation relief. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the combined prebiotics (containing 3 g xylooligosaccharides, 3 g stachyose, and 8 g galactooligosaccharides per 100 mL) effectively relieved constipation. Prebiotics combined with prune juice further enhancing efficacy through improved intestinal motility and microbiota modulation. These findings support the development of multi-component prebiotic formulations and reveal prune juice's potential to amplify prebiotic effects, providing a scientific basis for novel constipation management strategies.