Effect of the dietary fiber glucomannan on chronic constipation in neurologically impaired children.
OBJECTIVE
Inadequate dietary fiber intake is a widely accepted explanation for chronic constipation in children with severe brain damage. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of glucomannan, a soluble fiber, as a treatment for chronic constipation in these children.


METHODS
Twenty children with severe brain damage and chronic constipation were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with either glucomannan (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) for 12 weeks. Stool habits, total and segmental gastrointestinal transit times, and anorectal motility were evaluated in all children before and after the treatment period.


RESULTS
Glucomannan significantly increased (P <.01) stool frequency, whereas the effect of placebo was not significant. Laxative or suppository use was significantly reduced (P <.01) by glucomannan but was not affected by placebo. Clinical scores of stool consistency were significantly improved and episodes of painful defecation per week were significantly reduced by glucomannan (P <.01) but not by placebo. However, neither glucomannan nor placebo had a measurable effect on total and segmental transit times.


CONCLUSIONS
In neurologically impaired children, glucomannan improves stool frequency but has no effect on colonic motility.
Staiano
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Simeone
D
D
Del Giudice
E
E
Miele
E
E
Tozzi
A
A
Toraldo
C
C
D000285:Administration, Rectal; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000178:diet therapy*; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology; D013488:Suppositories
D002400:Cathartics; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008351:Mannans; D010919:Placebos; D013488:Suppositories; C022901:(1-6)-alpha-glucomannan