Effect of the ingestion of a symbiotic yogurt on the bowel habits of women with functional constipation / Efecto de la ingesta de un alimento simbiótico sobre el hábito evacuatorio en mujeres con constipación funcional

Background/aims: functional constipation is a prevalent problem within the western population. There is evidence supporting the fact that the inclusion of pre and probiotics in the diet can favorably modify the intestinal function. The present study evaluates the effect of the consumption of Activia®, a yogurt containing 108 UFC/g of Bifidobacterium animalis (DN-173 010) and fructoligosaccharide, in women between the ages of 18 and 55 with and without functional constipation (Rome II criteria). Methods: after a stabilization and a basal period, women were randomized to receive 2 units/day of Activia or a lacteous dessert without probiotics (control) for a period of 14 days. Afterwards the groups were intercrossed for another 14 days. Results: of the 399 women who started the study, 378 were eligible for study participation. In the group of women with functional constipation (n= 266), the consumption of the symbiotic was associated with a higher bowel evacuation rate (6.1±2.7 depositions/week with Activia vs. 5.0±2.6 dep./week in the control group; P<0.01), an improvement in the quality of the stools according to the Bristol scale (3.6±1.0 vs. 3.4±1.0; P<0.01), a reduced perception of straining effort (1.9±0.8 vs. 2.2±0.9; P<0.01) and a reduced perception of pain associated with defecation (0.1±0.2 vs. 0.2±0.3; P<0.01). In the group of women without constipation (n=112) there were statistically significant variations in equal sense but of smaller magnitude, with the exception of pain which, having a very low vavaluein the basal period, did not experience changes. Conclusion: the consumption of a symbiotic yogurt by women with functional constipation showed a significant improvement in the parameters related with bowel evacuation. The use of this symbiotic food can result in a useful and safe tool for managing constipation.

Introducción/objetivos: la constipación funcional es un problema prevalente en la población occidental. Existen evidencias de que la toma de alimentos pre y probióticos puede modificar favorablemente el hábito evacuatorio intestinal. En este trabajo se estudió el efecto de la ingesta de Activia®, un yogur conteniendo 10 8 UFC/g de Bifidobacterium animalis (DN-173 010) y un fructoligosacárido en mujeres de 18 a 55 años con y sin constipación funcional (criterios de Roma II). Métodos: luego de sendos períodos de estabilización y basal fueron aleatorizadas a recibir durante 14 días 2 unidades/día de Activia o de un postre lácteo sin probiótico ni prebiótico (control). Luego los grupos fueron entrecruzados durante otros 14 días. Resultados: de las 399 mujeres que iniciaron el estudio, 378 fueron evaluables. En el grupo de constipadas (n= 266) la toma del simbiótico se asoció con una mayor frecuencia evacuatoria (6,1±2,7 dep./semana con Activia vs. 5,0±2,6 dep./semana en controles; P<0,01), mejoría en la escala de Bristol de calidad de las heces (3,6±1,0 vs. 3,4±1,0; P<0,01), menor esfuerzo evacuatorio (1,9±0,8 vs. 2,2±0,9; P<0,01) y menor proporción de dolor evacuatorio (0,1±0,2 vs. 0,2±0,3 ; P<0,01). En el grupo sin constipación se observaron variaciones estadísticamente significativas en igual sentido pero de menor magnitud, con excepción del dolor que mostró un valor basal muy bajo. Conclusión: la ingesta del yogurt prebiótico en mujeres con constipación funcional mostró una mejoría significativa de los parámetros relacionados con la evacuación intestinal. La utilización de este alimento simbiótico puede resultar una herramienta útil y segura en el manejo de la constipación.

Causas y consecuencias de la deficiencia de hierro sobre la salud humana / Causes and consequences of iron deficiency on human health

La anemia y la deficiencia nutricional de hierro afectan a gran parte de la población mundial. En este artículo se discute las principales causas y consecuencias que produce esta deficiencia nutricional sobre la salud humana

Bioavailability of microencapsulated ferrous sulfate in fluid milk studies in human beings

Iron deficiency is one of the most important nutritional problems in the world. The best method to overcome this problem is the fortification of foods with highly bioavailable iron. Fluid milk is a massive consumption food with an easy access and which is generally the only food intake during the first months of life. Therefore the fortification of fluid milk with highly biovalable iron and no detectable alterations of its sensorial characteristics was studied in the present work. This procedure was made possible using a new type of ferrous sulfate, stabilized and microencapsulated with soy lecithin (SFE-171). The iron concentration of the fortified milk is 12 mg per liter. In order study the iron absorption from milk fortifield with this product, SFE-171 was labeled with59 Fe and given to 29 volunteers with a normal iron status, each of which received an iron quantily of 3 mg in 250 ml of fluid milk. The average iron absorption was (10.2+4.7) per cent. This result shows that the iron given in this physiocochemical form has the advantage of a high biovailability and it is possible that this product will be the first attempt for an adequate solution of iron deficiency.