title: Effectiveness of inulin intake on indicators of chronic constipation; a meta-analysis of controlled randomized clinical trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Constipation is an intestinal dysfunction. Prebiotics, such as inulin, can improve bowel function by positively influencing intestinal biota.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the scientific evidence for the role of inulin in improving bowel function in patients with chronic constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials was conducted, grounded on a literature search for the period 1995-2013 (descriptors: inulin & constipation) on PubMed, ScieLo and Central Trials Register Cochrane databases. A total of 24 articles were found, 5 of them were selected for this meta-analysis, involving 252 subjects (experimental group: n = 144, control group: n = 108). The quality of the studies was assessed using the Jadad scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant overall effect of inulin on stool frequency (DEM = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.04, 1.34), stool consistency (Bristol scale) (DEM = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.45), transit time (DEM = -0.57, 95% CI: -0.99, -0.15) and hardness of stool (RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.70). Pain and bloating do not improve with inulin intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inulin intake has a positive effect on bowel function.
authors.affiliation: Medicine s Departament. Complutense University of Madrid.. lcollado@ucm.es.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Collado Yurrita
authors.affiliation: Medicine s Departament. Complutense University of Madrid. Research Centers in Nutrition and Health (CINUSA Group).. ismasmm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: San Mauro Martín
authors.affiliation: Medicine s Departament. Complutense University of Madrid.. lcollado@ucm.es.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ciudad-Cabañas
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Complutense University of Madrid.. mcalle@med.ucm.es.
authors.forename: María Elisa
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Calle-Purón
authors.affiliation: Nutrition's Departament. Corporación Alimentaria Peñasanta S. A. Spain.. marta.hernandez@capsa.es.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández Cabria
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D007444:Inulin