Chronic
constipation and
hyperlipidemia, one of the many atherogenic risk factors, were common complications in
hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present trial evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of
isomaltose-
oligosaccharide (IMO) in the treatment of chronic severe
constipation and its effect on
lipid profiles in 20 HD patients. After a 2-week basal period, these patients were allocated to receive 30 g of IMO for a 4-week period. After the study period, these patients were observed for another 4 weeks. Bowel frequency, gastrointestinal symptomatology, biochemical parameters, and
lipid profiles were assessed. All patients completed this study. IMO induced a significant increase in number of bowel movements and hence improvement of
constipation in 76.3% + 30.9% of patients during the 4-week treatment. Some, but well-tolerated gastrointestinal side effects were noted. Statistically significant decreases in total
cholesterol and
triglycerides (TG) and increases in
high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were noted after IMO treatment (P <.05 compared with baseline and controls). After the study period, those patients receiving IMO had reductions in levels of total
cholesterol -17.6%, TG -18.4%, and elevations of levels of HDL-C by +39.1%. In conclusion, IMO once a day is well tolerated and effective in increasing bowel frequency and improving
constipation in HD patients. In addition, IMO treatment was effective in lowering total
cholesterol and
triglycerides and in raising HDL-C in HD patients.