Investigation of the efficacy of synbiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in children: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
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Abstract Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of synbiotic (Lactobacillus casei, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, and Bifidobacterium lactis and prebiotics [fiber, polydextrose, fructo-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides]) treatment in children with functional constipation. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in patients aged 4-18 years, and the patients were diagnosed to have functional constipation according to the Roma III diagnostic criteria. In this prospective study, the first group received synbiotic and the second group received a placebo. At the end of 4 weeks, patients were questioned about the initial symptoms. Patients who showed improvement in the initial symptoms at the end of the 4-week treatment period were considered to completely benefit from the treatment and those with some improvement in initial symptom were considered to partially benefit from the treatment. Results: The synbiotic and placebo groups comprised 72 and 74 patients, respectively. The mean age in the whole study group was 9.18±3.48 years with a male:female ratio of 1:21. After 4 weeks of treatment, significant improvement was not observed in any of the findings in the placebo group. Conversely, a significant improvement was observed in the weekly number of defecations, abdominal pain, painful defecation, and pediatric Bristol scale (p≤0.001) in the synbiotic group. Complete benefit from the treatment was achieved in 48 (66.7%) and 21 (28.3%) patients in the synbiotic and placebo groups, respectively, and a significant difference was observed between the groups (p≤0.001). Conclusion: Our studies have shown that the use of synbiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in children is beneficial. Cite this article as: Baştürk A, Artan R, Atalay A, Yılmaz A. Investigation of the efficacy of synbiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in children: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Turk J Gastroenterol 2017; 28: 388-93.
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A multi-strain synbiotic may lead to more treatment success compared to placebo in children with functional constipation.
“a multi‐strain synbiotic may lead to more treatment success compared to placebo (62% vs. 27%; RR 2.32 [1.54–3.47]; large magnitude of effect, low certainty). 103”
The recommendation for specific pro- and synbiotic preparations is based on a single study with low certainty evidence.
“The recommendation is based on a single study, with low certainty evidence. 88 , 103”
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- Authors
- Baştürk, A., Artan, R., Atalay, A., & Yılmaz, A.
- Affiliations
- Akdeniz University (TR)
- Venue
- Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
- Publisher
- AVES YAYINCILIK A.Ş.
- Published
- 2017-09-15
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 388-393
- ISSN
- 1300-4948 (ISSN-L)
- 2148-5607
- OpenAlex
- W2735224656
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Akdeniz Üniversitesi
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Keywords
- synbiotics, functional constipation, pediatric constipation, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, prebiotics, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, polydextrose, fibers, abdominal pain, painful defecation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Constipation, Defecation, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Recurrence, Abdominal Pain, Treatment Outcome, Dietary Supplements, Synbiotics
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