Current Overview on Clinical Management of Chronic Constipation

Abstract

Constipation is one of the major gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed in clinical practice in Western countries. Almost 20% of population suffer from this disorder, which means constipation is a substantial utilization of healthcare. Pathophysiology of constipation is complex and multifactorial, where aspects like disturbance in colonic transit, genetic predisposition, lifestyle habits, psychological distress, and many others need to be taken into consideration. Diagnosis of constipation is troublesome and requires thorough accurate examination. A nonpharmacological approach, education of the patient about the importance of lifestyle changes like diet and sport activity state, are the first line of therapy. In case of ineffective treatment, pharmacological treatments such as laxatives, secretagogues, serotonergic agonists, and many other medications should be induced. If pharmacologic treatment fails, the definitive solution for constipation might be surgical approach. Commonness of this disorder, costs of medical care and decrease in quality life cause constipation is a serious issue for many specialists. The aim of this review is to present current knowledge of chronic constipation and management of this disorder.

Bifidobacterium longum relieves constipation by regulating the intestinal barrier of mice

“…3 The incidence in adolescents is about 0.7%-29.6%, while the prevalence among the elderly can reach 30%. 4,5 Constipation gravely affects the quality of life and physical function of patients and it also brings a longterm medical burden to society and patients. 6 Therefore, effective treatment of constipation has become a matter of great concern.…”

The effect of probiotics on functional constipation in adults: A randomized, double-blind controlled trial

“…A non-pharmacological treatment is the first-line management of constipation involving the use of fibers. [ 24 ] Figure 2 shows the distribution of participants in the study groups. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the groups in which women with average ages of 39.9 to 43.1 year-old predominated.…”

The Anti-Constipation Effects of Raffino-Oligosaccharide on Gut Function in Mice Using Neurotransmitter Analyses, 16S rRNA Sequencing and Targeted Screening

“…Constipation is a complex disease driven by complex interactions between multiple molecules. Lifestyle changes, such as dietary supplement (prebiotics and probiotics) and exercise status (mild to moderate intensity), are the key measures of prevention [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The primary symptoms of constipation are difficulty with defecation and a reduced frequency of defecation [ 23 ].…”