Effect of fructooligosaccharides on constipation in pediatric patients at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health

Abstract

This randomized prospective parallel trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on chronic constipation in 4-12 year-old pediatric patients at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (n = 54). The subjects were divided into 2 groups. The first group was treated with 2.4 grams of milk of magnesia (MOM) per day and the other group was treated with 5 grams of FOS per day for the duration of 6 weeks. All subjects performed defecation pattern record before and after treatments and also recorded defecation and adverse effects during receiving the treatments. Dietary intake at the beginning and the last week of the treatments were assessed by 24-hour recall and 3-day food record respectively to determine total energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, dietary fiber, and water intakes per day. In addition, nutritional status of the subjects were assessed 3 times of visit (at baseline, week 2 and week 6 of the treatments) by weight and height measurements Results of FOS treatment in constipated pediatric patients showed a significant increase in the stool frequency, improvement of stool consistency, no straining, no pain at anus and blood-streaked stool during defecation when compared with baselines (p < 0.001). Dietary patterns of the subjects in the FOS and MOM groups at the beginning of the study were not significantly different. After the intervention, the amount of protein and fat intakes in the MOM group were significantly greater than those in the FOS group (p = 0.046 and 0.039 respectively). The proportion of dietary fiber intake in the FOS and MOM groups increased after the treatments compared to baseline. The nutritional status of all subjects was in normal range. It indicated that FOS did not interfere the growth status. The efficacy in treatment of constipation with FOS and MOM were not significantly different (p = 0.361). Twenty-four percent of the subjects treated with FOS suffered from adverse effects including abdominal pain, flatulence, flatus, and nausea; however, these effects were not serious. This study indicated that FOS could be an alternative choice to treat chronic pediatric constipation.