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Published on: July 31, 2019
Effectiveness of inulin intake on indicators of chronic constipation; a meta-analysis of controlled randomized
Luis Collado Yurrita1, Ismael San Mauro Martín2, María José Ciudad-Cabañas1
1Medicine s Departament. Complutense University of Madrid.. lcollado@ucm.es.
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.
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