Effect of the dietary fiber glucomannan on chronic constipation in neurologically impaired children.

Abstract

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.

STUDY DESIGN:

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.

• Authors: A Staiano, D Simeone, E Del Giudice, E Miele, A Tozzi, C Toraldo
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 136 Issue 1 Pg. 41-5 (Jan 2000) ISSN: 0022-3476 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10636972 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cathartics
• Dietary Fiber
• Mannans
• Placebos
• Suppositories
• (1-6)-alpha-glucomannan

Topics

• Administration, Rectal
• Anal Canal (physiology)
• Brain Damage, Chronic (complications)
• Cathartics (therapeutic use)
• Child, Preschool
• Chronic Disease
• Colon (physiology)
• Constipation (diet therapy)
• Defecation (physiology)
• Dietary Fiber (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Feces
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gastrointestinal Motility (physiology)
• Gastrointestinal Transit (physiology)
• Humans
• Intellectual Disability (complications)
• Male
• Mannans (therapeutic use)
• Placebos
• Rectum (physiology)
• Suppositories