title: Comparison of Lactobacillus Sporogenes plus mineral oil and mineral oil alone in the treatment of childhood functional constipation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Functional constipation is one of the most prevalent childhood gastrointestinal disorders. We evaluated effects of adding a probiotic to mineral oil in the treatment of functional constipation in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This controlled trial was conducted on 60 children (2 to 14 years old) with functional constipation (Rome III criteria). Children were allocated to receive the synbiotic (Lactol®, composed of Lactobacillus Sporogenes, 1 Tab/20 kg/d) plus mineral oil (Paraffin 1 ml/kg/d) or the mineral oil alone for two months. Symptoms of constipation including defecation frequency, stool form, strain and pain at defecation, incomplete evacuation and soiling were assessed and compared before and after the intervention. After the treatment period, the two groups were also compared with regards to subjective global assessment of improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment, stool frequency increased in both groups (P < 0.001), with greater increase in synbiotic + mineral oil group (P = 0.001). Frequency of hard/very hard stool and frequency of painful defecation decreased similarly in both groups (P < 0.001). Straining at defecation, incomplete evacuation, and soiling decreased in both groups (P < 0.001), but more decrease was seen in the synbiotic + mineral oil group (P < 0.05). Finally, there was a better global improvement in the synbiotic + mineral oil group (P < 0.05). No severe side-effects were observed in any group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adding the synbiotic Lactol® (containing Lactobacillus Sporogenes) to mineral oil can increase the improvement in the constipation symptoms of children without specific side-effects.
authors.affiliation: Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saneian
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tavakkol
authors.forename: Pardis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adhamian
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gholamrezaei
keywords: Constipation; mineral oil; probiotics; synbiotics
references.citation: J Pediatr. 2005 Mar;146(3):364-9
references.pmid: 15756221
references.citation: Pediatr Int. 2007 Aug;49(4):485-90
references.pmid: 17587273
references.citation: J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2010 Jul;22(7):332-8
references.pmid: 20590953
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100 Suppl 1:S5-S21
references.pmid: 16008641
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 2006 Apr;130(5):1527-37
references.pmid: 16678566
references.citation: J Child Health Care. 2009 Jun;13(2):116-27
references.pmid: 19458167
references.citation: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Aug 02;8(9):502-11
references.pmid: 21808283
references.citation: Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2010 May;31(9):938-49
references.pmid: 20180788
references.citation: World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jan 7;16(1):69-75
references.pmid: 20039451
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2010 Dec;126(6):1217-31
references.pmid: 21115585
references.citation: Nutr J. 2007 Aug 04;6:17
references.pmid: 17683583
references.citation: BMJ. 2006 Nov 18;333(7577):1051-5
references.pmid: 17110723
references.citation: Am Fam Physician. 2006 Feb 1;73(3):469-77
references.pmid: 16477894
references.citation: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2006 Sep;43(3):405-7
references.pmid: 16954970
references.citation: Iran J Pediatr. 2010 Dec;20(4):387-92
references.pmid: 23056736
references.citation: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Nov;9(11):661-74
references.pmid: 22945441