Efficacy of Synbiotics in Patients with Slow Transit Constipation: A Prospective Randomized Trial.
Synbiotic intake may efficiently restore the balance of gut microbiota and improve gastrointestinal functions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a synbiotic in patients with slow transit constipation. A total of 100 patients with slow transit constipation were randomized to receive either a synbiotic or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were the clinical remission and improvement rates at weeks 4 and 12. Stool frequency and consistency, colonic transit time (CTT), evacuation and abdominal symptoms, patient assessment of constipation symptoms, gastrointestinal quality-of-life index scores, satisfaction scores, and adverse events were also monitored. The clinical remission rates reached 37.5% at week 4 and 45.8% at week 12 in the treatment group, compared to 13.3% at week 4 and 16.7% at week 12 in the placebo group (p< 0.01 for both comparisons). Over 12 weeks, 64.6% of the patients who received the synbiotic experienced clinical improvement, compared to 29.2% of the patients in the placebo group (p< 0.01). During the intervention period, patients who were treated with the synbiotic exhibited increased stool frequency, improved stool consistency, decreased CTT, and improved constipation-related symptoms. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial suggested that dietary supplementation with a synbiotic improved evacuation-parameters-associated symptoms and colonic motility in patients with slow transit constipation (STC).
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. jinlingh_dc@163.com.
Chao
C
Ding
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. xiaolongge9118@126.com.
Xiaolong
X
Ge
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. 15996282291@163.com.
Xueying
X
Zhang
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. kevin_thl@163.com.
Hongliang
H
Tian
First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. njumedcy@126.com.
Hongkan
H
Wang
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. njumedgll@126.com.
Lili
L
Gu
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. jinlingh_gongjf@163.com.
Jianfeng
J
Gong
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. jinlingh_zwm@sina.com.
Weiming
W
Zhu
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China. jinlingh_lining@163.com.
Ning
N
Li
microbiota; slow transit constipation; soluble dietary fiber; synbiotic
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