Constipation, Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
Conditions
Keywords
polydextrose, mild constipation, faecal bulk, bowel function, clinical trial, fibre
Brief summary
Polydextrose (PDX) (8-30g/day) has been reported to increase faecal bulk and consistency, leading to easier stool passage in healthy subjects. Studies on its effect on defaecation frequency and colonic transit time have provided mixed results. The primary objective was to investigate the effect of PDX consumption by mildly constipated subjects on faecal bulk, measured as total faecal wet weight of 4-day collections. Secondary outcomes (faecal dry weight, defaecation frequency, stool consistency, ease of stool passage, total colonic transit time and gastrointestinal symptoms) were also explored. 51 subjects participated in a 4-week, two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study testing a control (CON) and a PDX treatment (18 g/d included in biscuits and drink mixtures)
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPolydextrose
Polydextrose-enriched food products
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTplacebo-controlled
Control food products
Sponsors
Oy Foodfiles Ltd
Tate & Lyle
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Intervention model description
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Mildly constipated healthy adults (who defecate 3- 5 days per week assessed by a 7-day bowel diary) 2. Provision of signed and dated informed consent prior to any study procedures 3. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 19 and ≤ 29 kg/m2 at the screening visit 4. Total score on fibre intake questionnaire max 17 points for women and 20 points for men (where each point represents approximately 1 g fibre intake) 5. Use of adequate contraception in females of childbearing potential
Exclusion criteria
1. Regular use of laxatives 2. Use of medication which alters study subjects' gastrointestinal function (e.g. including but not exclusive neuroleptic medication, medication for Parkinson disease, opioids) 3. History of digestive disease (e.g. celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal malignancy, fistula of intestine, ischemic colitis, bile acid malabsorption, repeated diverticulitis) 4. Type I and II diabetes 5. Previous major gastrointestinal surgery (e.g. intestinal resection, total gastrectomy, subtotal gastrectomy) or surgical treatment of obesity (within 6 months before the screening visit) 6. Present cancer (except basal cell skin cancer or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ) 7. Untreated thyroid disease 8. History of stroke or myocardial infarction within six months prior the screening visit 9. Subjects who were actively dieting for weight loss, or had eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia) 10. Lack of compliance to the study procedures 11. Females who were pregnant or breast-feeding or planning pregnancy 12. Known or suspected abuse of alcohol (more than 14 units of alcohol per week, one unit = 4 cl spirit, 12 cl wine or 33 cl medium strong beer / cider), 13. Allergy/hypersensitivity/intolerance to study products 14. Vegetarians or regularly consuming fibre supplements/fibre supplemented foods 15. Any clinically significant disease/condition which in the Investigator's opinion could interfere with the results of the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Faecal bulk | 4-day collections | Measured as total faecal wet weight |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Defaecation frequency | 7-day period during the run-in period and intervention period | Recorded as defaecation frequency (i.e. number of stools) |
| Stool consistency | 7-day period during the run-in period and intervention period | Measured using the Bristol Stool Form (BSF) score (1 = separate hard lumps, like nuts (difficult defaecation), 2 = sausage shaped but lumpy, 3 = like a sausage or snake but with cracks on its surface, 4 = like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft, 5 = soft blobs with clear cut edge, 6 = fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool, 7 = watery, no solid pieces) |
| Faecal dry weight | 4-day collections during the intervention period | Measured as total faecal dry weight |
| Total colonic transit time | At the end of the intervention period for three consecutive days | Using radio-opaque, barium sulfate impregnated polyethylene pellets located inside gelatin capsules |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | Once at the end of the intervention period and during the previous one week (7 day-period). | Subjects ranked ranked the subjective tolerance variables daily to burping, cramping, distension/bloating, flatulence, nausea, reflux (heartburn) and vomiting on a four-point scale (1 = none, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe) |
| Ease of stool passage | At the end of the intervention period | Using a five-point scale (1 = very easy, 2 = easy, 3 = neither easy nor difficult, 4 = difficult, 5 = very difficult) |
Outcome results
None listed