TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of prebiotic oligosaccharides on bowel habit and the gut microbiota in children with functional constipation (Inside study)
T2 - study protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial
AU - Wegh, Carrie A.M.
AU - Schoterman, Margriet H.C.
AU - Vaughan, Elaine E.
AU - van der Zalm, Sofie C.C.
AU - Smidt, Hauke
AU - Belzer, Clara
AU - A. Benninga, Marc
PY - 2024/4/5
Y1 - 2024/4/5
N2 - Background: Functional constipation (FC) in children is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a worldwide-pooled prevalence of 9.5%. Complaints include infrequent bowel movements, painful defecation due to hard and/or large stools, faecal incontinence, and abdominal pain. Prebiotic oligosaccharides have been shown to relieve constipation symptoms in young adults and elderly. However, sufficient evidence is lacking linking additional prebiotic intake to improve symptoms in children with FC. We hypothesise that prebiotic oligosaccharides are able to relieve symptoms of constipation in young children as well. Methods: In the present randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre study, we will study the effects of two prebiotic oligosaccharides in comparison to placebo on constipation symptoms in children of 1–5 years (12 to 72 months) of age diagnosed with FC according to the Rome IV criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders. The primary outcome measure will be change in stool consistency. Secondary outcomes include stool frequency and stool consistency in a number of cases (%). Tertiary outcomes include among others painful defecation, use of rescue medication, and quality of life. In addition, the impact on gut microbiome outcomes such as faecal microbiota composition and metabolites will be investigated. Participants start with a run-in period, after which they will receive supplements delivered in tins with scoops for 8 weeks, containing one of the two prebiotic oligosaccharides or placebo, followed by a 4-week wash-out period. Discussion: This randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre study will investigate the effectiveness of prebiotic oligosaccharides in children aged 1–5 years with FC. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04282551. Registered on 24 February 2020.
AB - Background: Functional constipation (FC) in children is a common gastrointestinal disorder with a worldwide-pooled prevalence of 9.5%. Complaints include infrequent bowel movements, painful defecation due to hard and/or large stools, faecal incontinence, and abdominal pain. Prebiotic oligosaccharides have been shown to relieve constipation symptoms in young adults and elderly. However, sufficient evidence is lacking linking additional prebiotic intake to improve symptoms in children with FC. We hypothesise that prebiotic oligosaccharides are able to relieve symptoms of constipation in young children as well. Methods: In the present randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre study, we will study the effects of two prebiotic oligosaccharides in comparison to placebo on constipation symptoms in children of 1–5 years (12 to 72 months) of age diagnosed with FC according to the Rome IV criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders. The primary outcome measure will be change in stool consistency. Secondary outcomes include stool frequency and stool consistency in a number of cases (%). Tertiary outcomes include among others painful defecation, use of rescue medication, and quality of life. In addition, the impact on gut microbiome outcomes such as faecal microbiota composition and metabolites will be investigated. Participants start with a run-in period, after which they will receive supplements delivered in tins with scoops for 8 weeks, containing one of the two prebiotic oligosaccharides or placebo, followed by a 4-week wash-out period. Discussion: This randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre study will investigate the effectiveness of prebiotic oligosaccharides in children aged 1–5 years with FC. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04282551. Registered on 24 February 2020.
KW - Bowel habit
KW - Functional constipation
KW - Gastroenterology
KW - Gut microbiota
KW - Nutrition
KW - Oligosaccharides
KW - Paediatrics
KW - Prebiotic
KW - Stool consistency
KW - Stool frequency
UR - https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7165969
U2 - 10.1186/s13063-024-08050-8
DO - 10.1186/s13063-024-08050-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 38576033
AN - SCOPUS:85189622413
SN - 1745-6215
VL - 25
JO - Trials
JF - Trials
IS - 1
M1 - 238
ER -