Symbiotic treatment in hospitalized patients: impact on constipation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of symbiotic treatment on intestinal function in constipated hospitalized patients. The study where with 24 constipated patients of both sexes in a hospital environment were randomized into two groups to receive maltodextrin (control group) and symbiotic treatment (experimental group) daily for 7 days. In relation to defecation frequency, there was no statistical difference between the groups. The percentage of patients who had no evacuation report in the experimental group decreased on days 1 (66.7%), 4 (41.7%) and 7 (33.3%), while the control group did not show such effect. It was found that symbiotic treatment did not lead to an increase in abdominal symptoms in either the experimental or placebo group. The present study showed that symbiotic treatment for 7 days is insufficient to achieve significant results, especially in defecation frequency and stool consistency and shape.