Bacillus coagulans

Overview

• Bacillus coagulans is a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium belonging to the Firmicutes phylum.
• Classified as a probiotic, its spores survive stomach acid, germinate in the intestine, and benefit the microbiome and immune system.
• Primarily used in supplements to support gastrointestinal health and systemic immune balance.

Benefits

• Gut health: Reduces abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and antibiotic-associated diarrhea (e.g., 10 × 10⁹ CFU/day for 8 weeks).
• Immune modulation: Increases secretory IgA and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) in healthy adults, suggesting enhanced mucosal immunity.
• Metabolic support: Modest reductions in fasting glucose and insulin resistance observed in overweight adults after 12 weeks of 10 × 10⁹ CFU/day.
• Physical performance: A 4-week supplementation (5 × 10⁹ CFU/day) improved endurance in cyclists, likely via gut-muscle axis modulation.
• Cognitive/mental health: Pilot data shows lower perceived stress scores after 8 weeks, possibly through gut-brain axis signaling.
• All benefits are dose-dependent and most effective with a balanced diet.

How It Works

• After ingestion, B. coagulans spores resist stomach acid (pH 1–3) and germinate in the small intestine.
• Vegetative cells produce enzymes (proteases, amylases) aiding nutrient breakdown.
• Adheres to intestinal mucosa via surface proteins (e.g., SpaA), competing with pathogens for adhesion sites.
• Modulates the gut microbiome by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs, especially acetate) and bacteriocins inhibiting harmful bacteria.
• Interacts with Toll-like receptors (TLR2/4) in immune cells, leading to a balanced Th1/Th2 response and increased regulatory T-cell (FoxP3⁺) activity, dampening systemic inflammation.
• Produced SCFAs activate G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR41/43) on enteroendocrine cells, stimulating GLP-1 release and improving glucose homeostasis.
• These actions underpin its digestive, metabolic, and immunomodulatory effects.

Dosage

• Research uses 1 × 10⁹ – 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU per day for most health outcomes.
• General gut health: 1 × 10⁹ CFU, taken with a meal.
• Clinical conditions (IBS, diarrhea): 5 × 10⁹ – 1 × 10¹⁰ CFU divided into two doses for 4–12 weeks.
• Metabolic/immune support: 5 × 10⁹ CFU once daily for 8–12 weeks.
• Athletes: 5 × 10⁹ CFU 30 min before exercise.
• Pediatric trials: Higher doses (up to 5 × 10¹⁰ CFU) used under clinical supervision.
• Capsules, tablets, and powders are available; optimal stability below 25°C and protected from moisture.

Safety & Side Effects

• Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) with a long history of food use.
• Mild side effects (<5%): transient flatulence, bloating, or mild abdominal cramping (usually resolving within days).
• Contraindications: severe immunosuppression (e.g., chemotherapy, organ transplant), central venous catheters (rare bacteremia reports).
• No significant drug interactions documented, but probiotic use may alter oral antibiotic efficacy (reduced by 1–2 log CFU if taken within 2 hours).
• Pregnant/lactating women: standard doses, consult a health professional.
• Individuals with bacterial endocarditis should avoid high-dose (>10⁹ CFU) supplements.

Chemistry

• Bacillus coagulans is a living microorganism; no single molecular formula.
• Rod-shaped, Gram-positive spore-former (1.2–1.8 µm × 0.5 µm) with a thick peptidoglycan layer (type A3α) containing teichoic acids.
• Genome: ~3.5 Mbp, encoding ~3,200 proteins, including enzymes for carbohydrate fermentation (e.g., lactate dehydrogenase) and antimicrobial peptide production.
• Spores consist mainly of dipicolinic acid (C₆H₈N₂O₄) complexed with Ca²⁺, conferring heat and acid resistance.
• Vegetative cell surface displays proteins (e.g., S-layer proteins, 45–70 kDa) essential for mucosal adhesion.
• Taxonomy: Bacillus coagulans (De Mey et al., 1995).

Sources & Quality

• Isolated from fermented foods (dairy, fermented vegetables) and soil.
• Commercially cultivated in sterile broth (e.g., tryptic soy broth) under aerobic conditions.
• Harvested as dry spores using spray-drying or lyophilization.
• GMP facilities use fermentation-scale bioreactors (up to 10,000 L) with controlled pH (6.5–7.0) and temperature (30–37 °C).
• Quality criteria: ≥10⁹ CFU/g at expiration, absence of contaminants, confirmed strain identity by 16S rRNA sequencing.
• Certified-organic or non-GMO sources preferred for clinical trials.
• Label-accurate products undergo third-party testing for potency and purity.