Effectiveness of inulin intake on indicators of chronic constipation: a meta-analysis of controlled randomized clinical trials

• Autores: L. Collado Yurrita, Ismael San Mauro Martín, María José Ciudad Cabañas, María Elisa Calle Purón, Marta Hernández Cabría
• Localización: Nutrición hospitalaria: Órgano oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Clínica y Metabolismo (SENPE), ISSN-e 1699-5198, ISSN 0212-1611, Vol. 30, Nº. 2, 2014, págs. 244-252
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Background: Constipation is an intestinal dysfunction. Prebiotics, such as inulin, can improve bowel function by positively influencing intestinal biota.

    Aim: To analyze the scientific evidence for the role of inulin in improving bowel function in patients with chronic constipation.

    Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials was conducted, grounded on a literature search for the period 1995-2013 (descriptors: inulin & constipation) on PubMed, ScieLo and Central Trials Register Cochrane databases. A total of 24 articles were found, 5 of them were selected for this meta-analysis, involving 252 subjects (experimental group: n = 144, control group: n = 108). The quality of the studies was assessed using the Jadad scale.

    Results: We found a significant overall effect of inulin on stool frequency (DEM = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.04, 1.34), stool consistency (Bristol scale) (DEM = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.45), transit time (DEM = -0.57, 95% CI: -0.99, -0.15) and hardness of stool (RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.70). Pain and bloating do not improve with inulin intake.

    Conclusions: inulin intake has a positive effect on bowel function.