Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr.  2018 Jan;21(1):28-33. 10.5223/pghn.2018.21.1.28.

A Synbiotic Infant Formula with High Magnesium Content Improves Constipation and Quality of Life

• Xinias I
• Analitis A
• Mavroudi A
• Roilides I
• Lykogeorgou M
• Delivoria
• Milingos V
• Mylonopoulou M
• Vandenplas Y

• KMID: 2401770
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5223/pghn.2018.21.1.28

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the efficacy of synbiotic formula with partial whey hydrolysate and high magnesium content in infants presenting with functional constipation.
METHODS
Sixty-five infants with functional constipation were included. Forty infants were treated during one month with parental reassurance and the intervention formula and were compared to a control group of 25 infants treated with parental reassurance only. Parents completed a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire at baseline and during the last week of the study.
RESULTS
At inclusion, stool characteristics and QoL were similar in both groups. The control group was slightly older than the intervention group (7.5±3.9 vs. 6.2±3.6 weeks). At onset, stool composition was "hard and tight" (Bristol stool scale 1 and 2) in all infants. After one month, stool composition remained unchanged in the control group except in two infants that developed "creamy" stools (Bristol stool scale type 3 and 4). In the intervention group, stools remained "hard and tight" in 27.5%, and became "creamy" in 47.5%, "loose" (Bristol stool scale type 5) in 22.5% and "watery" (Bristol stool type 6 and 7) in 2.5%. The benefit of the intervention formula was estimated to be "very important" in 70%. The median scores for QoL improved significantly in the intervention group for all parameters and for one in the control group.
CONCLUSION
The intervention formula significantly improved functional constipation resulting in a better QoL of the parents and infants.

Keyword

Constipation; Hydrolysate; Magnesium; Prebiotics; Galacto-oligosaccharide; Bifidobacterium animalis

MeSH Terms

Constipation*
Humans
Infant Formula*
Infant*
Magnesium*
Parents
Prebiotics
Quality of Life*
Synbiotics*
Whey
Magnesium
Prebiotics

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