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Probiotics-prebiotic Fiber Therapy in Parkinson's Disease Patients With Constipation

Probiotics-prebiotic Fiber Therapy Improved Bowel Opening Frequency and Whole Gut Transit Time in Parkinson's Disease Patients With Constipation: A Randomised Controlled Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04451096
Enrollment
48
Registered
2020-06-30
Start date
2018-10-06
Completion date
2019-02-28
Last updated
2020-06-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Constipation, Parkinson Disease

Keywords

Parkinson's disease, Constipation, Probiotics, Prebiotic, Gut transit time, Motor outcome, NMSS, PDQ39, Randomised controlled trial

Brief summary

A double blinded randomised placebo controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics on constipation symptoms and whole gut transit time in patients with Parkinson's disease.PD patients with constipation were randomized to receive a multi-strain probiotic (Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp at 30 X 109 CFU) with fructo-oligosaccaride (FOS) or placebo (fermented milk) twice daily for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes include changes in the presence of constipation symptoms using 9 items of Garrigues Questionnaire (GQ), which included an item on bowel opening frequency. Secondary and exploratory outcomes include whole gut transit time (WGTT), quality of life (PDQ39-SI), motor (MDS-UPDRS) and non-motor symptoms (NMSS).

Detailed description

This was an eight-week double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled intervention study involving 55 idiopathic PD patients attending tertiary hospital. This study was conducted in accordance with good clinical practice as per Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the institution's Research and Ethics Committee (FF-2018-387). Written informed consent was obtained from all particpants prior to enrollment. Participants were included if they were aged 18 or older; were diagnosed with idiopathic PD in Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-4, and fulfilled the Rome III criteria for functional constipation which requires the presence of recurrent abdominal pain 3 days per month in the last 3 months, and symptom onset 6 months prior to diagnosis, with additional criteria below to be fulfilled, as adapted from Longstreth, et al12. 1. Must include two or more of the following: 1. Straining during at least 25% of defecations 2. Lumpy or hard stools in at least 25% of defecations 3. Sensation of incomplete evacuation for at least 25% of defecations d. Sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage for at least 25% of defecations e. Manual maneuvers to facilitate at least 25% of defecations (e.g, digital evacuation, support of the pelvic floor) f. Fewer than 3 defecations per week 2. Loose stools are rarely present without the use of laxatives 3. There are insufficient criteria for IBS Participants were excluded if they had: a MMSE score of ≤ 21/30; a positive stool occult blood screening; a diagnosis of secondary parkinsonism; previous history of small and large bowel disease; prior history of gastrointestinal tract surgery; use of probiotics or antibiotics two weeks prior to baseline visit; been on medications such as antidepressants or anticholinergics; history of lactose intolerance; concomitant diagnosis of hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. All participants were assessed at baseline and at 8 weeks following intervention for all outcome assessments. At baseline, additional data on demographics (age, sex, educational level), duration of PD, dopaminergic medication, Hoehn & Yahr Scoring during ON period, and the level of physical activity were recorded at baseline. A sedentary behaviour was defined as being physically active \< 4 hours /week.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTProbiotics with prebiotic

Patients were instructed to consume one sachet twice daily mixed with a glass of water, before or after meals, for a duration of 8 weeks

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo

Patients were instructed to consume one sachet twice daily mixed with a glass of water, before or after meals, for a duration of 8 weeks

Sponsors

National University of Malaysia
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

double blinded

Intervention model description

placebo controlled

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18 or older; were diagnosed with idiopathic PD * PD with Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-4, * Fulfilled the Rome III criteria for functional constipation

Exclusion criteria

* MMSE score of ≤ 21/30 * Positive stool occult blood screening * Diagnosis of secondary parkinsonism * Previous history of small and large bowel disease * History of gastrointestinal tract surgery * Use of probiotics or antibiotics two weeks prior to baseline visit * Been on medications such as antidepressants or anticholinergics * History of lactose intolerance * Concomitant diagnosis of hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
constipation symptoms8 weeksThe presence of constipation symptoms at baseline and at 8 weeks evaluated by Garrigues Questionnaire (GQ).GQ is a 21-item self-reported screening questionnaire to detect the presence of constipation symptoms, using two different sets of four-point Likert scale responses.Although 12 items assess bowel habits, 9 items specifically assess constipation symptoms and were used in our evaluation: (i)Feeling of blockage in the anus;(ii) Need to press around anus/vagina to complete bowel movement; (iii) Spend \>10 minutes to pass stool;(iv) Straining during bowel movement;(v) Feeling of hard stool;(vi) Feeling of incomplete emptying sensation; (vii)Bowel opening frequency;(viii) Frequency of oral laxative use;(ix) Frequency of enema use

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency of patients with constipation (Bowel motion < 3 per week) in percentage8 weeksBased on the stool diary, the percentage of patients who experienced less than 3 BM per week was calculated at baseline and at the end of study.
Movement Disorders Society- Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 118 weeksThis measures the motor aspects of activity of daily living and consists of 13 items with scores between 0- 52. This instrument is given at baseline and 8 weeks. Lower score indicates low severity
Movement Disorders Society- Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 1118 weeksThis measures the seveirty of motor symptoms using 18 items (score 0-72). This instrument is given at baseline and 8 weeks. Lower score indicates low severity.
Non motor symptom score8 weeksChange in non-motor symptoms severity scores using the Non motor Symptom Scale (NMSS) which consists of 9 domains (cardiovascular, sleep/fatigue, mood/cognition, perceptual problems/hallucination, attention/memory, gastrointestinal tract, urinary, sexual function and miscellaneous.Score ranges from minimum of 3 to 360. Lower score indicates lower severity
Whole Gut Transit Time (WGTT) in hours8 weeksWGTT was measured at baseline and at the end of 8 weeks, using red carmine capsule. The mean change in the WGTT (WGTT 8 weeks - WGTT baseline) was compared between the two groups.
Weight in kilogram8 weeksChange in body weight measurement in Kg
Height in metresBaselineHeight will be measured in meters at baseline
Body Mass Index (kg/m2)8 weeksWeight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^
Parkinsons Disease Quality of Life -39 Summary Index (PDQ39SI)8 weeksChange in PD9 39-SI which measure 8 domains of Quality of Life ( Lower score indicates better quality of life)

Countries

Malaysia

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026