Probiotics have been suggested to improve gastrointestinal health in humans. To investigate the effects of Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD administration on fecal microflora and putrefactive metabolites in humans, Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD (4.00${ imes}$10$sub$5/ CFU/mg) was administrated to ten healthy subjects (5 men and 5 women, average age 24 years) three times a day for 2 weeks. Fecal samples were collected before (1st and 2nd weeks, control), during (3rd and 4th weeks), and 2 weeks after the administration. The fo11owing microbial groups were evaluated in the feces: aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, total lactic acid bacteria, Salmonella, Clostridium, Clostridium perfringens, Eubacterium, Staphylococcus, Coliform bacteria, Pseudomunas, and Yeast. Fecal concentrations of total aerobic bacteria (p<0.05, p<0.01, 3rd and 4th weeks), total lactic acid bacteria (p<0.01, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks), and Bifidobacteria (p<0.05, 4th and 5th weeks) were significantly increased in all subjects, compared to the control, from the 3rd week after the administration of the products. Clostridium (p<0.01, 4th week), Clostridium perfringens (p<0.05, p<0.01, 3rd and 4th weeks), and coliform (p<0.01,5th week) were significantly reduced from the 3rd week of administration. No significant changes in the fecal concentrations of Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, Staphylococcus, yeast, and total anaerobes were observed. Six weeks after the administration, the concentration of all rnicroorganlsrns returned to the basal level. Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD was significantly maintained from the 3rd week to 6th week of the study. Despite the absence of a statistical significance, the putrefactive metabolites (ammonia, indole, skatole, and $
ho$-cresol) and the pH value tended to be lower during and after the test periods than the base line. These results show that this probiotic preparation is able to colonize the intestine, and suggest that it may be useful as a beneficial probiotic in humans.
