Pediatric functional constipation treatment with Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt: a crossover, double-blind, controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the treatment of pediatric functional chronic intestinal constipation (FCIC) with a probiotic goat yogurt. METHODS: A crossover double-blind formula-controlled trial was carried out on 59 students (age range: 5-15 years) of a public school in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, presenting a FCIC diagnostic, according to Roma III criteria. The students were randomized in two groups to receive a goat yogurt supplemented with 10(9) colony forming unit/mL Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) (probiotic) daily or only the yogurt for a period of 5 wk (formula). Afterwards, the groups were intercrossed for another 5 wk. Defecation frequency, stool consistency and abdominal and defecation pain were assessed. RESULTS: Both treatment groups demonstrated improvement in defecation frequency compared to baseline. However, the group treated with probiotic showed most significant improvement in the first phase of the study. An inversion was observed after crossing over, resulting in a reduction in stool frequency when this group was treated by formula. Probiotic and formula improved stool consistency in the first phase of treatment, but the improvement obtained with probiotic was significantly higher (P = 0.03). In the second phase of treatment, the group initially treated with probiotic showed worsening stool consistency when using formula. However, the difference was not significant. A significant improvement in abdominal pain and defecation pain was observed with both probiotic and formula in the first phase of treatment, but again the improvement was more significant for the group treated with B. longum during phase I (P < 0.05). When all data of the crossover study were analyzed, significant differences were observed between probiotic yogurt and yogurt only for defecation frequency (P = 0.012), defecation pain (P = 0.046) and abdominal pain (P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: An improvement in defecation frequency and abdominal pain was observed using both supplemented and non-supplemented yogurt, but an additional improvement with B. longum supplementation was obtained.

Consumo de fibra dietética en un grupo de niños de la consulta externa del servicio de gastroenterología pediátrica del Hospital Infantil Club Noel de Cali, Colombia / Dietetic fiber in 22 children from the Hospital Infantil Club Noel of Cali, Colombia

Introducción: El estreñimiento crónico funcional (ECF) es causa importante de consulta en gastroenterología pediátrica. El papel de la fibra dietética en niños como agente causal de estreñimiento es tema de controversia. Objetivo: Informar el consumo de fibra dietética en 22 niños del Hospital Infantil Club Noel (HICN) de Cali, Colombia. Informe de casos: Se trata de 22 niños (3-13 años), de ambos géneros, que consultaron por primera vez al HICN de Cali, por diversas causas digestivas. Se realizó una historia clínica médica, y una entrevista nutricional por recordatorio de 24 horas. Se definió desnutrición aguda cuando el déficit para peso/talla (P/T) era >10% y sobrepeso cuando el exceso para P/T era >10%. El análisis químico de la fibra dietética se hizo con base en el Contenido de Fibra Dietética y Almidón Resistente en Alimentos y Productos Iberoamericanos del CYTED. Se dividieron según género, hábito intestinal y signos y síntomas; en niños con estreñimiento (n=9) y sin estreñimiento (n=13) (p=0.865, 95% IC -6.71 a 7.91). Conclusión: Los 22 niños del HICN de Cali, independiente de la presencia de estreñimiento, consumen 12.8±7.8 g de fibra dietaria al día, que son los recomendados por la mayoría de estudios descritos.

Introduction: Functional chronic constipation is an important cause of consultation in pediatric gastroenterology. The role of the dietetic fiber in children is controversial as a cause of the constipation. Objective: To report the dietetic fiber consumption in 22 children of the Hospital Infantil Club Noel (HICN) of Cali. Report of cases: Were included 22 children (3-13 years), both gender, from the HICN of Cali with digestive diagnoses for the first time. A medical clinical history was made, and one interviews nutritional by reminder of 24 hours. Acute undernourishment was defined when the deficit for weight/height (W/H) was >10% and overweight when the excess for W/H was >10%. The chemical analysis of the dietetic fiber was made following the Content of Dietetic Fiber and Resistant Starch in Foods and Latin American Products of the CYTED. The patients were divided according to gender, intestinal habit, signs and symptoms; in children with constipation (n=9) and without constipation (n=13) (p=0.865, 95% IC -6.71 to 7.91). Conclusion: The 22 children of the HICN of Cali, independent of the constipation presence, consume 12.8±7.8 grams of dietetic fiber to the day, an amount that is the recommended one by almost all of the consulted studies.