Epidemiology characteristics of constipation for general population, pediatric population, and elderly population in china. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2014;2014:532734. [PMID: 25386187 PMCID: PMC4216714 DOI: 10.1155/2014/532734]

Frequency of Functional Constipation in Lebanese Children: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Parental Reporting

Aim: To determine the frequency and possible associated dietary and environmental factors of functional constipation (FC) among children in Lebanon followed at a single pediatric health system. Method: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in all pediatrics clinics at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). Children aged 2-7 years presenting for a well-child visit were recruited. Data relating to the child's bowel habits and other history items were obtained from parental questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the 172 recruited participants was 4.94 years with 56.4% being males. FC was present in 32.6% of the participants. Although there was no difference in the frequency of FC based on age and gender, the peak frequency of FC was at 5 years. The daily frequency of withholding stools was 64.3%, and 46.6% of the children with FC always experienced straining while stooling for the past 2 months. Decreased physical activity and diet were not significantly associated with FC. Conclusion: The present study shows that 32.6% of children aged 2-7 years in Lebanon suffer from constipation while only 51.7% of the recruited children's physicians inquire about the child's bowel movement during the well check visit. These numbers highlight the need to raise more awareness among pediatricians on the need to screen for constipation during clinic visits as a standard of care practice.

Association between sleep disorders and constipation Risk: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship between sleep disturbances and various types of constipation in patients.

METHODS

We conducted systematic searches in the research databases PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify qualifying studies. Using Stata software version 14.0, we calculated the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for constipation in patients with sleep disorders. If P > 0.1 and I2 ≤ 50 %, we employed a fixed-effects model; otherwise, we applied a random-effects model. We assessed publication bias using funnel plots and Egger's test.

RESULT

The pooled analysis demonstrated that individuals with sleep disorders were associated with an increased risk of all-cause constipation (OR = 1.47; 95 %CI: 1.31-1.64; I2 = 88.8 %, P＜0.001). Specifically, both children (OR = 1.29; 95 %CI: 1.16-1.42; I2 = 63.8 %, P＜0.001) and adults (OR = 1.65; 95 %CI: 1.39-1.97; I2 = 92.4 %, P＜0.001) with a history of sleep disorders exhibited an increased risk of all-cause constipation.. Furthermore, patients with a history of insufficient sleep were also associated with an increased risk of constipation (OR = 1.33; 95 %CI: 1.20-1.46; I2 = 6.7 %, P＜0.001). Additionally, patients with poor sleep quality were found to have an increased risk of constipation (OR = 1.56; 95 %CI: 1.0-2.45; I2 = 90.9 %, P = 0.05). Lastly, patients with insomnia were found to have the highest risk of constipation (OR = 1.94; 95 %CI: 1.37-2.76; I2 = 97.8 %, P＜0.001).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicates that sleep disorders are associated with an elevated risk of constipation. Insomnia, poor sleep quality, and insufficient sleep duration all contribute to elevating the risk of constipation. These findings emphasize the significance of recognizing sleep disorders as an independent risk factor for constipation in both children and adults.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding constipation in pregnancy among pregnant women in Shanghai: a cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aims to investigate the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) pertaining to constipation during pregnancy among pregnant women in Shanghai.

Methods

Demographic data and KAP scores were collected using a questionnaire. Differences across groups were analyzed using either Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests or Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance. Spearman's correlation analysis was utilized to evaluate the relationships between KAP scores. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that influence KAP scores.

Results

Encompassing 241 individuals (46.6%) aged between 30 and 34 years, with 349 participants (67.5%) being nulliparous. The median scores for knowledge (possible range: 0-26), attitude (possible range: 7-35), and practice (possible range: 14-70) were 22 (18, 24), 26 (23, 29), and 51 (46, 56), respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that being a medical professional (OR = 2.222, p = 0.043) and receiving education on constipation during pregnancy (OR = 0.432, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher knowledge scores. Factors significantly associated with practice included being aged 30-34 years (OR = 2.745, p < 0.001), aged 35 years and above (OR = 2.514, p < 0.001), working in education (OR = 2.310, p = 0.012), and not experiencing constipation before pregnancy (OR = 1.894, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Pregnant women demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, positive attitudes, and proactive practices concerning constipation during pregnancy. To further augment clinical practice, healthcare providers should tailor educational interventions and guidance specifically for pregnant women who are not medical professionals and those who have not received education and guidance related to constipation during pregnancy.

Prevalence and determinants of constipation in children in Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Constipation is prevalent worldwide, significantly increasing healthcare costs and diminishing the quality of life in children affected. Current studies have yielded mixed results regarding the factors associated with constipation, and mainly focusing on patients outside of Asia. Moreover, most of these studies lack focus on the paediatric population. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated factors of constipation among children in Asia.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane for cohort and cross-sectional studies published from database inception up to October 12, 2022, and continued with manual searching until September 2, 2023. Eligible studies were those that included children in Asia aged 0-18 years old suffering from idiopathic constipation, with prevalence value provided in the English abstract. The analysis included clinical and general population. Children with organic constipation, who had undergone gastrointestinal surgery, or with congenital defects were excluded, as these factors affect the incidence of constipation. Data included in the analysis were extracted from published reports only. The extracted data were pooled using random-effects model to analyse the prevalence of constipation in children in Asia. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022367122.

Findings

Out of 4410 systematically searched studies and 36 manually searched ones, a total of 50 studies were included in the final analysis, encompassing data from 311,660 children residing in Asia. The pooled prevalence of constipation was 12.0% (95% CI 9.3-14.6%, I2 = 99.8%). There was no significant difference in constipation prevalence observed by sex and geographical location. Nonetheless, adolescents and children aged 1-9 years exhibited a significantly higher prevalence constipation compared to infants (p < 0.0001) Additionally, significant differences in constipation rates were observed across various diagnostic methods, population sources, and mental health conditions.

Interpretation

Despite the high heterogeneity resulting from varying diagnostic tools or definitions used among studies, our review adds to the literature on constipation among children in Asia. It reveals a notably high prevalence of constipation in this demographic. Diagnostic methods, age, and compromised mental health emerged as significant influencers of constipation among children in Asia, highlighting potential strategies to mitigate constipation prevalence in children in Asia.

Funding

The National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan.

Efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture for functional constipation in older adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

Functional constipation (FC) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in clinical practice, with the prevalence of which increasing with age. With the increasing aging of the population worldwide, this problem is bound to become more prominent. Acupuncture is effective and recommended for the treatment of FC. However, little is known about how acupuncture affects the gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines and thus improves gut function. Meanwhile, there are few high-quality clinical trials specifically focusing on acupuncture in treating FC in older people. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating FC in older people. Additionally, the research aims to explore the mechanism of action of acupuncture in treating FC in older people by affecting intestinal microbiota and inflammation cytokines.

Methods and analysis

This study is designed as a single-center, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 98 eligible FC patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into an acupuncture group and a sham acupuncture group. Both groups will receive 24 treatments over 8 weeks with a 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome of the study is the treatment response rate, which is the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements (CSBMs) over weeks 3-8. The secondary outcomes will include the proportion of participants with ≥3 mean weekly CSBMs during other assessment periods; the percentage of patients with ≥1 increase in mean weekly CSBMs from baseline; the average changes in CSBMs; Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms (PAC-SYM), Bristol Stool Scale, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAC-QOL), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and weekly usage of emergency bowel medications. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the study. Data for the outcomes will be collected at Week 0 (baseline), Week 4 (the intervention period), Week 8 (the post-treatment), Week 12 (the follow-up period) and Week 20 (the follow-up period). In addition, changes in intestinal microbiota will be analyzed using 16S rRNA high-throughput detection, and the concentration of relevant inflammatory cytokines in serum will be measured by ELISA based on blood samples. The intention-to-treat analysis will be performed in this study.Clinical trial registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR2300070735].

Enhancing Colonoscopy Preparation in Elderly Constipation Patients: A Personalized Approach with PEG and Exercise - A Case Study

This study aimed to optimize bowel preparation efficacy for colonoscopy in elderly constipation patients. A 71-year-old patient with chronic constipation and a history of poor bowel preparation. To address these challenges, we implemented a personalized strategy combining of PEG administration and walking exercise. The PEG was administered according to a protocol, with intermittent exercise breaks of 10 minute. Bowel cleanliness was assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). Adverse reactions and tolerance were closely monitored throughout the intervention. The patient's BBPS score improved from 3 to 8 post-intervention. The exercise intervention was well-tolerated (rating I), and mild nausea was observed only after the first PEG dose. No severe adverse reactions occurred. Subsequent Follow-up revealed symptom relief. The personalized approach combining (PEG and exercise intervention) successfully improved bowel preparation quality in the elderly constipation patient undergoing colonoscopy. This approach considers age-related changes in gastrointestinal function and activity level, offering an effective strategy to improve patient tolerance and reduce adverse reactions during bowel preparation. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring interventions for elderly constipation patients to optimize the colonoscopy experience.

The ten "hard" questions in pediatric functional constipation

Functional constipation is a common problem in childhood and has a great impact on social, physical, and emotional functioning of affected children and their caregivers. No organic cause of the constipation can be found in approximately 95% of children, defining the "so-called" chronic functional constipation. Its prevalence has been reported to range from 0.7 to 29.6%, with a median of 12%. The diagnosis of functional constipation is exclusively clinical based on the pediatric diagnostic Rome criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders and does not routinely require laboratory and/or radiological investigations. In case of alarm signs and symptoms that may suggest organic diseases, further investigations can be required. The therapeutic management is based on non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches. Education, demystification of constipation and reward-based toilet training represent the cornerstones of nonpharmacological management. Disimpaction, maintenance treatment and weaning of medication are all elements of pharmacological treatment. Osmotic laxatives, mainly polyethylene glycol (PEG), are considered the first-choice laxative for both disimpaction and maintenance treatment. The aim of this review is to provide pediatric gastroenterologists with a practical tool to support the clinical and therapeutic management of children and adolescents affected by chronic functional constipation.

Causal associations between human gut microbiota and hemorrhoidal disease: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Hemorrhoidal disease (HEM) is a common condition affecting a significant proportion of the population. However, the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and hemorrhoids remains unclear. In this study, we employed a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to investigate the potential associations between them. In this study, the exposure factor was determined by selecting summary statistics data from a large-scale gut microbiome whole-genome association study conducted by the MiBioGen Consortium, which involved a sample size of 18,340 individuals. The disease outcome data consisted of 218,920 cases of HEM and 725,213 controls of European ancestry obtained from the European Bioinformatics Institute dataset. Two-sample MR analyses were performed to assess the causalities between gut microbiota and hemorrhoids using various methods, including inverse-variance weighting, MR-Egger regression, MR Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO), simple mode, and weighted median. Reverse MR analyses were performed to examine reverse causal association. Our findings suggest phylum Cyanobacteria (OR = 0.947, 95% CI: 0.915-0.980, P = 2.10 × 10 - 3), genus Phascolarctobacterium (OR = 0.960, 95% CI: 0.924-0.997, P = .034) and family FamilyXI (OR = 0.974, 95% CI: 0.952-0.997, P = .027) have potentially protective causal effects on the risk of HEM, while genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG_002 (OR = 1.036, 95% CI: 1.001-1.071, P = .042), family Peptostreptococcaceae (OR = 1.042, 95% CI: 1.004-1.082, P = .029), genus Oscillospira (OR = 1.048, 95% CI: 1.005-1.091, P = .026), family Alcaligenaceae (OR = 1.048, 95% CI: 1.005-1.091, P = .036) and order Burkholderiales (OR = 1.074, 95% CI: 1.020-1.130, P = 6.50 × 10-3) have opposite effect. However, there was a reverse causal relationship between HEM and genus Oscillospira (OR = 1.140, 95% CI: 1.002-1.295, P = .046) This is the first MR study to explore the causalities between specific gut microbiota taxa and hemorrhoidal disease, which may offer valuable insights for future clinical interventions for hemorrhoidal disease.

Slow gut transit increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease: An integrated study of the bi-national cohort in South Korea and Japan and Alzheimer's disease model mice

INTRODUCTION

Although the association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and constipation is controversial, its causality and underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the potential association between slow gut transit and AD using epidemiological data and a murine model.

METHODS

We conducted a bi-national cohort study in South Korea (discovery cohort, N=3,130,193) and Japan (validation cohort, N=4,379,285) during the pre-observation period to determine the previous diagnostic history (2009-2010) and the follow-up period (2011-2021). To evaluate the causality, we induced slow gut transit using loperamide in 5xFAD transgenic mice. Changes in amyloid-beta (Aβ) and other markers were examined using ELISA, qRT-PCR, RNA-seq, and behavioral tests.

RESULTS

Constipation was associated with an increased risk of AD in the discovery cohort (hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01-2.07) and the validation cohort (hazard ratio; 2.82; 95% CI, 2.61-3.05). We found that loperamide induced slower gut transit in 5xFAD mice, increased Aβ and microglia levels in the brain, increased transcription of genes related to norepinephrine secretion and immune responses, and decreased the transcription of defense against bacteria in the colonic tissue.

CONCLUSION

Impaired gut transit may contribute to AD pathogenesis via the gut-brain axis, thus suggesting a cyclical relationship between intestinal barrier disruption and Aβ accumulation in the brain. We propose that gut transit or motility may be a modifiable lifestyle factor in the prevention of AD, and further clinical investigations are warranted.

Large Sigmoid Fecaloma: A Rare Case of a Common Condition in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

A fecaloma is a rare complication of chronic constipation that is more commonly seen in elderly individuals with chronic neuropsychiatric disorders. We present the case of a 79-year-old patient with Parkinson's disease with refractory constipation due to a large fecaloma mass in the sigmoid colon, which is a rare sequela of poorly managed chronic constipation. The current report highlights the importance of aggressive medical therapy for chronic constipation in this group of patients to prevent life-threatening complications.

Intestinal flora in the constipation patients before versus after lactulose intervention

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of intestinal flora in patients with chronic functional constipation before and after lactulose intervention. Twenty-nine patients with constipation in the treatment group received oral lactulose (15 mL/d) for a month. Twenty healthy subjects served as controls. Stool specimens were collected before and after lactulose treatment. Fecal bacteria were examined by 16SrRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. After lactulose treatment, most bacteria in the constipation group, including Bifidobacteria, Bacillus cereus, Prevotella, Bacillus, Anaerostipes, Oribacterium, and Mogibacterium increased as compared to those in the healthy control group. Anaerotruncus declined in the healthy control group after lactulose treatment. Our study shows lactulose can increase the abundance of probiotics, optimize the intestinal microenvironment, and alleviate constipation.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale: a translation and validation study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to translate the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale into Chinese and to examine its reliability and validity in a population of older people suffering from chronic constipation.

METHODS

In this study, the scale was paraphrased, back-translated, cross-culturally adapted and pre-experimented using the Brislin double translation-back-translation method to create the initial Chinese version of the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale. A convenience sampling method was used to select 564 study participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Liaoning and Shanxi, China, to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale. General information about the study population was using descriptive statistics; item analysis was used to screen the items of the scale. Content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and validation factor analysis were chosen to validate the scales; internal consistency, spilt-half reliability and retest reliability were used determine the reliability of the measurement scales.

RESULTS

The Chinese version of the Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale contains 7 dimensions and 21 items. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale was 0.901 and the range of Cronbach's alpha values for each dimension was 0.707 to 0.918. The split-half reliability of the scale was 0.736 and the retest reliability was 0.763. The exploratory factor analysis showed a KMO value of 0.873 and a Bartlett's spherical test X² value of 3499.978 (p < 0.001). A total of seven common factors were extracted, namely daily activities, treatment satisfaction, lack of control of bodily function, diet restriction, symptom intensity, anxiety and preventive actions, with a cumulative variance contribution of 77.813%. Each item had a loading value > 0.4 on its common factor. In the validation factor analysis, the model fit results were X² / df = 1.886, GFI = 0.910, AGFI = 0.874, PGFI = 0.654, IFI = 0.955, TLI = 0.942, CFI = 0.954, RMSEA = 0.056 and PNFI = 0.718. The model fit indicators were all within acceptable limits.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese version of the E-CIS has good reliability and validity in the chronic constipation population of elderly individuals. The results of the questionnaire can effectively and comprehensively reflect the impact of chronic constipation on the quality of life of elderly individuals. It provides a meaningful reference for identifying targets for intervention.

Symptoms and Prevalence of Constipation among Adult Population of Bangladesh

Background

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. The prevalence of constipation is rapidly increasing globally. It has adverse effects on the patient's quality of life including productivity and results in a high financial hardship on the healthcare system. The aim of the study was to estimate the symptoms and prevalence of constipation among the adult population of Bangladesh.

Materials and methods

It was a cross-sectional observational study based on a structured questionnaire and a checklist. In this study, three criteria were used for the diagnosis of chronic constipation (self-reported perception, Rome III criteria, and Bristol's criteria). The study was conducted among 1,550 population between July 2019 and December 2019.

Result

The study population consisted of 1,550 respondents, among them 41.61% male and 58.39% female, and the mean age was 32.71 ± 9.72 years. In the study, 12.2% of the population was categorized to have constipation according to self-reported perception, 11.2% according to Rome III, and 10.3% reported to have been suffering from constipation according to Bristol chart.Female gender tends to have a greater prevalence than male. In multivariate analysis for constipation, betel nut chewer, alcohol consumer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, GI surgery, and bronchial asthma were significantly (p < 0.001) associated with constipation. According to Bristol's criteria, the most common stool form was Type III (sausage-shaped with cracked surface) among the Bangladeshi population in this study.

Conclusion

Chronic constipation is a common problem worldwide. The findings of this study suggest that there is a high prevalence of constipation among the general population of Bangladesh. Decreasing modifiable risk factors of constipation can reduce its prevalence and burden of the disease. Bangladesh is markedly deficient in literature citing constipation prevalence and determinants. These findings may commence a call for setting priority as one of the major public health problems and demanding attention for both at the clinical and community levels.

How to cite this article

Ghosh DK, Sarkar DK, Nath M, et al. Symptoms and Prevalence of Constipation among Adult Population of Bangladesh. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2023;13(2):45-49.

Laparoscopic total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis and subtotal colectomy with antiperistaltic cecorectal anastomosis for slow transit constipation

To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (TC-IRA) and laparoscopic subtotal colectomy with antiperistaltic cecorectal anastomosis (SC-ACRA) on adults with slow transit constipation (STC). One hundred and three patients with STC were assigned to the TC-IRA group (n = 53) and the SC-ACRA group (n = 50). The clinical data were analyzed. The surgery was successful in all patients (100%). Significantly (P = 0.03) more patients took anti-laxatives during hospitalization in the TC-IRA than the SC-ACRA group (39.62% vs. 20.00%). Abdominal pain and distension was present in 33.96% and 32.00% patients in the TC-IRA and SC-ACRA group, respectively, which decreased insignificantly (P > 0.05) to 18.87% and 18.00% 24 months after surgery, respectively. The postoperative Wexner and gastrointestinal quality of life (GIQLI) scores were not significantly different (P > 0.05) at all times after surgery in both groups. The defecation frequency decreased in both groups, and the average defecation frequency was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the TC-IRA than the SC-ACRA group (3.91 ± 1.23 vs. 3.14 ± 1.15 times/day) at 3 months. Three months after surgery, significantly (P < 0.05) fewer patients were satisfied with defecation frequency in the TC-IRA than the SC-ACRA group (29 vs. 37 patients), whereas the number of patients who were willing to choose the same procedure again was not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the two groups. The WIS score of patients was significantly (P = 0.035) higher in the TC-IRA than the SC-ACRA group (6 vs. 5) 3 months later. TC-IRA and SC-ACRA are both safe and effective for adult slow transit constipation, and can significantly improve the quality of life of patients. Even though SC-ACRA has better early defecation frequency, postoperative antidiarrheal application and satisfaction, the long-term follow-up effects are similar.

Psychological states could affect postsurgical pain after hemorrhoidectomy: A prospective cohort study

Background

Open hemorrhoidectomy is one of the standard procedures for grade IV hemorrhoids. Postsurgical pain is a common problem for patients. We aim to prospectively evaluate potential factors affecting postoperative pain among hemorrhoidectomy patients.

Methods

An observational study was conducted on 360 patients who had undergone Milligan-Morgan open hemorrhoidectomy. Details of the surgery and baseline information were recorded. Preoperative anxiety and depression were analyzed via the self-rating anxiety scale 20 (SAS-20) and self-rating depression scales 20 (SDS-20), respectively. Postoperative pain score was performed daily after surgery until the patient was discharged. The numerical pain score was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS). The association between preoperative psychological states (anxiety or depression) and postoperative pain was analyzed using a generalized additive mixed model.

Results

A total of 340 patients eventually provided complete data and were included in our study. The average age was 43.3 ± 14.4 years, and 62.1% of patients were women. In total, 14.9% of patients had presurgical anxiety and 47.1% had presurgical depression. Postsurgical pain reached a peak point 1-2 days after surgery and went down to a very low level around 4-5 days after surgery. More excision of hemorrhoids could lead to more pain experience after surgery. Presurgical depression was associated with postsurgical pain. Patients who had presurgical depression had higher pain scores after surgery (2.3 ± 1.9 vs. 3.3 ± 1.9, p = 0.025).

Conclusion

Preoperative depression and the amount of excisional hemorrhoids are positively related to postsurgical pain.

Characteristics of fecal microbiota in different constipation subtypes and association with colon physiology, lifestyle factors, and psychological status

Background

Patients with chronic constipation (CC) show altered gut microbial composition.

Objectives

To compare the fecal microbiota with different constipation subtypes and to identify potential influencing factors.

Design

This is a prospective cohort study.

Methods

The stool samples of 53 individuals with CC and 31 healthy individuals were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. The associations between microbiota composition and colorectal physiology, lifestyle factors, and psychological distress were analyzed.

Results

In all, 31 patients with CC were classified as having slow-transit constipation, and 22 were classified under normal-transit constipation. The relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae was lower, and the relative abundance of Peptostreptococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, and Clostridiaceae was higher in slow-transit than in normal-transit group. In all, 28 and 25 patients with CC had dyssynergic defecation (DD) and non-DD, respectively. The relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Ruminococcaceae was higher in DD than in non-DD. Rectal defecation pressure was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae but positively correlated with that of Bifidobacteriaceae in CC patients. Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that depression was a positive predictor of Lachnospiraceae relative abundance, and sleep quality was an independent predictor of decreased relative abundance of Prevotellaceae.

Conclusion

Patients with different CC subtypes showed different characteristics of dysbiosis. Depression and poor sleep were the main factors that affected the intestinal microbiota of patients with CC.

Plain language summary

Characteristics of fecal microbiota in different constipation subtypes and association with colon physiology, lifestyle factors, and psychological status Patients with chronic constipation (CC) show altered gut microbial composition. Previous studies in CC are limited by lacking of subtype stratification, which is reflected in the lack of agreement in findings across the large number of microbiome studies. We analyzed stool microbiome of 53 CC patients and 31 healthy individuals using 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that the relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae was lower, and the relative abundance of Peptostreptococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, and Clostridiaceae was higher in slow-transit than in normal-transit CC patients. The relative abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Ruminococcaceae was higher in dyssynergic defecation (DD) than in non-DD patients with CC. In addition, depression was a positive predictor of Lachnospiraceae relative abundance, and sleep quality was an independent predictor of decreased relative abundance of Prevotellaceae in all CC patients. This study emphasizes patients with different CC subtypes have different characteristics of dysbiosis. Depression and poor sleep may be the main factors that affect the intestinal microbiota of patients with CC.

Sustained ameliorating effects and autonomic mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation at ST36 in patients with chronic constipation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The treatment of chronic constipation is still a great challenge in clinical practice. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and sustained effects of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) at acupoint ST36 on the treatment of chronic constipation and explore possible underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with chronic constipation were recruited and randomly assigned to a TEA group or sham-TEA group. A bowel diary was recorded by the patients. The Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom (PAC-SYM) and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QoL) questionnaires were administered during each visit. Anal and rectal functions were evaluated with anorectal manometry. Autonomic functions were assessed by the special analysis of heart rate variability derived from the ECG recording.

RESULTS

Compared with sham-TEA, 2-week TEA treatment significantly increased the number of spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) (5.64 ± 0.54 vs. 2.82 ± 0.36, P < 0.001) and lowered the total scores of PAC-SYM (0.90 ± 0.14 vs. 1.35 ± 0.13, P < 0.001) and PAC-QoL (0.89 ± 0.13 vs. 1.32 ± 0.14, P < 0.05). TEA improved symptoms, as reflected by a reduction in the straining (P < 0.001), the incomplete defecation (P < 0.05), the frequency of emergency drug use (P < 0.05), the days of abdominal distension (P < 0.01) and an increase in intestinal satisfaction (P < 0.01). Interestingly, the effects of TEA on the improvement of weekly SBMs sustained four weeks after the cessation of treatment (P < 0.001). Anorectal manometry indicated that 2-week treatment of TEA lowered the threshold of first sensation (P < 0.05), desire of defecation (P < 0.01) and maximum tolerable volume (P < 0.001) compared with sham-TEA group. TEA also significantly enhanced vagal activity, reflected by high-frequency band of heart rate variability, compared with sham-TEA (57.86 ± 1.83 vs. 48.51 ± 2.04, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

TEA ameliorates constipation with sustained effects, which may be mediated via improvement of rectal sensitivity and enhancement of vagal activity.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

[https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [ChiCTR210004267].

Integrated gut microbiome and metabolome analyses identified fecal biomarkers for bowel movement regulation by Bifidobacterium longum BB536 supplementation: A RCT

Background

Bifidobacterium longum BB536 supplementation can be used to regulate bowel movements in various people, including healthy subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, individuals vary in their responses to B. longum BB536 treatment. One putative factor is the gut microbiota; recent studies have reported that the gut microbiota mediates the effects of diet or drugs on the host. Here, we investigated intestinal features, such as the microbiome and metabolome, related to B. longum BB536 effectiveness in increasing bowel movement frequency.

Results

A randomized, double-blind controlled crossover trial was conducted with 24 adults who mainly tended to be constipated. The subjects received a two-week dietary intervention consisting of B. longum BB536 in acid-resistant seamless capsules or similarly encapsulated starch powder as the placebo control. Bowel movement frequency was recorded daily, and fecal samples were collected at several time points, and analyzed by metabologenomic approach that consists of an integrated analysis of metabolome data obtained using mass spectrometry and microbiome data obtained using high-throughput sequencing. There were differences among subjects in B. longum intake-induced bowel movement frequency. The responders were predicted by machine learning based on the microbiome and metabolome features of the fecal samples collected before B. longum intake. The abundances of eight bacterial genera were significantly different between responders and nonresponders.

Conclusions

Intestinal microbiome and metabolome profiles might be utilized as potential markers of improved bowel movement after B. longum BB536 supplementation. These findings have implications for the development of personalized probiotic treatments.

Relationship between Depression and Constipation: Results from a Large Cross-sectional Study in Adults

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Accumulating evidence based on a few studies suggests a relationship between depression and functional constipation. This study examined whether depression is associated with a higher risk of functional constipation and whether it is gender specific.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 3,362 adults aged 18-55 years. In this study, functional gastrointestinal symptoms were determined using an Iranian reliable and valid version of the modified Rome III questionnaire. The Iranian validated version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to evaluate the psychological health. Scores of eight or more on the depression subscale in the questionnaire were considered the presence of depression. Simple and multiple binary logistic regression were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The mean±SD age of participants was 36.29±7.87 years, and 58.5% were female. The prevalence of depression and constipation in the study sample was 28.6% and 23.9%, respectively. In the full adjusted model, in the total sample, depressed people showed a significantly higher risk of constipation; adjusted OR (AOR), 1.69 (95% CI, 1.37-2.09). Although a significant association was observed between depression and constipation in both genders, the association was stronger in men than women (AOR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.50, 3.63 vs. AOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.21, 1.99).

CONCLUSIONS

These study findings showed that depressed people are at a significantly higher risk of being affected by constipation. The current study findings justify the importance of mental health evaluations in all patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, particularly among constipated individuals.

Abnormal bile acid metabolism is an important feature of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in patients with slow transit constipation

Destructions in the intestinal ecosystem are implicated with changes in slow transit constipation (STC), which is a kind of intractable constipation characterized by colonic motility disorder. In order to deepen the understanding of the structure of the STC gut microbiota and the relationship between the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites, we first used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to evaluate the gut microbiota in 30 STC patients and 30 healthy subjects. The α-diversity of the STC group was changed to a certain degree, and the β-diversity was significantly different, which indicated that the composition of the gut microbiota of STC patients was inconsistent with healthy subjects. Among them, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Ruminiclostridium were significantly upregulated, while Subdoligranulum was significantly downregulated. The metabolomics showed that different metabolites between the STC and the control group were involved in the process of bile acids and lipid metabolism, including taurocholate, taurochenodeoxycholate, taurine, deoxycholic acid, cyclohexylsulfamate, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholate, arachidonic acid, and 4-pyridoxic acid. We found that the colon histomorphology of STC patients was significantly disrupted, and TGR5 and FXR were significantly downregulated. The differences in metabolites were related to changes in the abundance of specific bacteria and patients’ intestinal dysfunction. Analysis of the fecal genomics and metabolomics enabled separation of the STC from controls based on random forest model prediction [STC vs. control (14 gut microbiota and metabolite biomarkers)—Sensitivity: 1, Specificity: 0.877]. This study provided a perspective for the diagnosis and intervention of STC related with abnormal bile acid metabolism.

Epidemiology of Constipation in Elderly People in Parts of China: A Multicenter Study

Purpose

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of constipation in people aged 65 years and older in several regions of China.

Patients and Methods

A cross-sectional study based on a cluster sampling design was conducted in four cities of China: Tianjin, Xiamen, Cangzhou and Harbin. A total of 5,222 cases (age ≥ 65 years) were recruited, and the survey was conducted via centralized and household questionnaires that included the following: basic demographic characteristics such as sex, age, education, marital status, living status and occupation; social activities; duration of sleep at night; duration of menstruation and delivery times (in females); and if the participant had constipation symptoms, the severity of constipation. Constipation was diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria.

Results

Of the 5,222 participants, 919 were diagnosed with constipation. The prevalence of constipation was 17.60% in elderly people ≥65 years old. Prevalence increased with age and was significantly higher in females than males (P < 0.05). Prevalence was lower in the manual compared to the non-manual worker group, and significantly increased with decreasing duration of night sleep (P < 0.05). Older age, female sex and shorter sleep duration at night were risk factors for constipation in elderly people.

Conclusion

The prevalence of constipation in the elderly people in four cities of China was 17.60%, and was significantly affected by age, sex and sleep duration at night.

A descriptive study of high resolution total colonic intracavitary manometry and colonic transit test in the diagnostic efficacy of functional constipation in Chinese patients

Background

This study was to observe the diagnostic efficacy of high resolution total colonic intracavitary manometry (HRCM) vs colonic transit test (CTT) in the assessment of functional constipation (FC) in Chinese patients.

Methods

Seventy-nine cases of patients with severe FC who were admitted and received colon resection between July 2016 and July 2019 at the Tianjin Union Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Before operation, all patients received CTT at outpatient service, followed by HRCM at ward. The resected tissues were subject to histological observation, which was used to determine the diagnostic efficacy of HRCM vs CTT.

Results

The accuracy of CTT for the FC diagnosis was 69.6% (55/79), and the false negative ratio was 30.4%. The accuracy of HRCM for the FC diagnosis was 81.0% (64/79), and the false negative ratio was 19.0% (15/79). Twelve patients showed normal characteristics after CTT but abnormal after HRCM. In contrast, only 4 showed normal after HRCM but abnormal after CTT. In addition, among the 79 patients 12 were detected normal by both CTT and HRCM.

Conclusion

HRCM can be more suitable to assess FC compared with CTT, while CTT is still indispensable for HRCM to diagnose FC.

Functional constipation in Bangladeshi school aged children: A hidden misty at community

BACKGROUND

Constipation is a common problem in children and a frequent cause of hospital visit in both primary & specialized care, which needs proper evaluation & management. Presentation of constipation is variable among children. In Bangladesh there has been no published data regarding constipation in community among school aged children.

AIM

To determine the magnitude of functional constipation and its risk factors in community among Bangladeshi school children.

METHODS

This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in different schools of Dhaka division, Bangladesh. All school aged children between 5-16 years of age who attended school were included in this study. Samples were collected randomly. Proper clinical history & physical examinations (without digital rectal examination) & available investigations (if done previously) were recorded. Diagnosis of functional constipation was done by Rome IV criteria and was compared with children without constipation. Children with any red flag sign, known chronic disease or any findings suggestive of organic disease and on treatment of constipation were excluded. Statistical analysis of the results was done by using Windows based software device with Statistical Packages for Social Science 20. For all statistical tests, P value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Total study populations were 707 and male was 443 and female 264. Among them, 134 (19%) children had constipation. In constipated children, 78 children fulfilled the Rome IV criteria for functional constipation and it was 11% of total population. Mean age of children having functional constipation was 11.24 ± 3.54 years and Male female ratio was 1:1.78. Anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, hard stool, blood with hard stool, alternate hard and loose stool and fecal mass in left iliac fossa were analyzed between two group and all were significantly higher in children with functional constipation group. Children of school, where toilet numbers were inadequate had 2.5 times more constipation risk in comparison to children of school with adequate toilet number (OR = 2.493, 95%CI: 1.214-5.120). Children who feel embarrassed to use toilet at school, had 3.6 times higher risk of constipation (OR = 3.552, 95%CI: 1.435-8.794). Here children with H/O affected sibs and parents/grandparents had 4 and 2.6 times more chance of constipation respectively in comparison to children without H/O affected sibs (OR = 3.977, 95%CI: 1.884–8.397) and parents/grandparents (OR = 2.569, 95%CI: 1.172-5.629). Children with inadequate fluid intake had 2 times more risk of constipation in comparison to children with adequate fluid intake (OR = 1.972, 95%CI: 1.135-3.426). Children who passed electronic screen time of > 2 h/d had 2 times more chance of constipation in comparison to children who passed electronic screen time < 2 h (OR = 2.138, 95%CI: 1.063-4.301).

CONCLUSION

Constipation is not uncommon in Bangladeshi school aged children. Inadequate toilet number, family history of constipation, inadequate fluid intake, feeling embarrassed to use toilet at school, and electronic screen time for > 2 h/d were found as risk factors in the present study for functional constipation.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Functional Constipation According to the Rome Criteria in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Functional constipation (FC) is a common bowel disorder that prevails worldwide. In China, although a heterogeneous prevalence of constipation is expected, it is currently not demonstrated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and related risk factors of FC in the Chinese population, according to the Rome criteria.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, the Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Wanfang data knowledge service platform, the VIP information resource integration service platform, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed) databases from the inception of database to July 2021. Population-based cross-section studies that enrolled adults with FC, diagnosed by the Rome criteria, were deemed eligible. We summarized the overall prevalence and detected the subgroup effect per the Rome I, Rome II, Rome III, and Rome IV criteria. We used the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with a random-effect intercept to pool the prevalence and performed pairwise meta-analyses for prevalence comparisons by risk factors.

RESULTS

We identified 3,213 records through our database search, and 39 studies from China, comprising 1,240,79 participants, met the eligibility criteria for our study. The pooled overall prevalence of FC using the Rome criteria was 8.5% in China. Heterogeneous prevalence was detected within the Rome criteria (Rome II: 10.6%, 95% CI: 7.2-15.4; Rome III: 6.5%, 95% CI: 3.4-12.0; Rome IV: 8.1%, 95% CI: 5.6-11.8). The prevalence increased between 1991 and 2020 (from 5.5% with 95% CI: 3.6-8.2 between 1991 and 2000 to 10.9% with 95% CI: 5.5-20.4 between 2011 and 2020). Higher prevalence was found in women [odds ratio (OR) = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.31-1.78] and the elderly (≥70 years vs. ≤ 29 years: OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 2.16-5.30) than in men and the younger population. A high-fiber diet was associated with lower prevalence (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15-0.75), whereas irregular bowel habit and inactivity were associated with higher prevalence (OR = 3.64, 95% CI: 2.64-5.03; OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.14-3.43). Unhealthy mental states, such as anxiety and depression, and poor sleep quality led to high prevalence (OR = 3.16, 95%C I: 1.96-5.11; OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.76-4.26; OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.69-2.72, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Various types of FC prevail in China based on the different Rome criteria, personal characteristics, and habits. The prevalence also increased over the past three decades. The FC should be included under the primary care setting with uniform diagnosis criteria in China.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, CRD42021277172.

Prevalence of Constipation in Elderly and Its Association With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Constipation and dementia have similar epidemiological characteristics. Changes in intestinal flora and characteristics of the brain-gut axis play roles in the pathogeneses of the two diseases, suggesting that there may be a close connection between the two. Most of the studies on constipation in dementia patients have focused on the population with α-synucleinopathies [Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)]. Few studies have reported the prevalence of constipation in all-cause dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) populations.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of constipation in patients with all-cause dementia and MCI subtypes and to explore the association between constipation with dementia and MCI subtypes.

Methods

From May 2019 to December 2019, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey. A total of 11,743 participants aged 65 or older from nine cities in China were surveyed. Participants underwent a series of clinical examinations and neuropsychological measurements. Constipation, dementia, MCI and MCI subtype were diagnosed according to established criteria through standard diagnostic procedures.

Results

The overall age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of constipation in individuals aged 65 years and older was 14.8% (95% CI, 14.6–15.0). The prevalence rates of constipation were19.2% (95% CI, 17.3–21.0), 19.1% (95% CI, 16.8–21.5), 14.4% (95% CI, 12.8–15.9), and 13.8% (95% CI, 13.0–14.6) in the dementia, non-amnestic (na)-MCI, amnestic (a)-MCI and normal cognition populations, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher prevalence of constipation was associated with dementia (p = 0.0.032, OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02–1.38) and na-MCI (p = 0.003, OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09–1.54).

Conclusion

The present study found a high prevalence of constipation in elderly individuals in China, and higher in patients with dementia and na-MCI.

Transdermal Administration of Volatile Oil from Citrus aurantium-Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae Alleviates Constipation in Rats by Altering Host Metabolome and Intestinal Microbiota Composition

Background

The Citrus aurantium- (ZhiShi, ZS-) Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (BaiZhu, BZ) pairs are often found in herbal formulas for constipation. The volatile oils of ZS and BZ (ZBVO) have good pharmacological activity against constipation, but the mechanism for treatment of slow transit constipation (STC) remains unclear.

Method

A rat model using diphenoxylate tablets was constructed to investigate if transdermal administration of ZBVO would mediate intestinal microorganisms and fecal metabolites and improve STC symptoms. The regulatory effects of ZBVO at 0.15, 0.30, and 0.60 mL kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ on STC rats were assessed by measuring fecal water content, intestinal propulsion rate, histopathology, expression of gastrointestinal hormones, brain and intestinal peptides, and inflammatory factors. The changes in intestinal flora of STC rats were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Moreover, the untargeted fecal metabolomics analysis was performed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology.

Results

The results showed that ZBVO had a modulating effect on STC by increasing the fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate. Transdermal administration of ZBVO decreased serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and increased the levels of gastrin (GAS) and substance P (SP). In addition, ZBVO increased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels and decreased vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in colon and hippocampus tissues. The results of intestinal microbiota showed that ZBVO improved the diversity and abundance of intestinal microbiota and changed the community composition by decreasing Romboutsia and increasing Proteobacteria, Allobaculum, and Ruminococcaceae. And the feces metabolomics found that nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, purine metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), pyruvate metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis were modulated.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that ZBVO can alleviate STC symptoms by promoting intestinal peristalsis, increasing fecal water content, regulating gastrointestinal hormone level, reducing the inflammatory response, and regulating brain and intestinal peptides after transdermal administration. And structural changes in the intestinal microbiota are closely related to host metabolism and intestinal microbiota destroyed in STC modeling could be significantly improved by the ZBVO, which provides a reference for the development of aromatic drug macrohealth products.

Treatment Satisfaction With Current Medications for Chronic Constipation: An Internet Survey of Japanese Patients

GOALS

This survey aims to determine relevant patient characteristics, treatment satisfaction, and bothersome symptoms in Japanese patients with chronic constipation (CC) treated at medical institutions.

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological surveys of Japanese patients with CC are limited.

STUDY

This internet survey, conducted in 2017, included 500 adults (selected from 589 respondents to match age composition ratio in Japan) who experienced constipation-like symptoms for ≥6 months, were treated at medical institutions for symptoms, and were taking any prescribed medication.

RESULTS

Of 500 patients, 65.6% were female and 62.6% had experienced constipation for >10 years. Abdominal bloating, infrequent bowel movement, hard consistency of stool, and difficulty of defecation were the most frequently reported and most bothersome symptoms in males and females. Overall, 29% of patients were satisfied with treatment (36% of males, 26% of females); the individual major CC symptom with the highest level of treatment satisfaction was infrequent bowel movement (31% of total, 45% of males, 26% of females). The level of treatment satisfaction for most individual major CC symptoms was lower in females than in males, and overall treatment satisfaction by therapeutic categories ranged from 16% to 46%. Mean overall treatment satisfaction, as well as mean treatment satisfaction for each major symptom, decreased with increasing number of treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey results suggest that conventional treatment options were not effective enough to improve bothersome symptoms or treatment satisfaction. Treatment selection that is tailored to individual symptoms and takes patient characteristics into consideration may be key to improving patients' treatment satisfaction.

Bowel dysfunction after elective spinal surgery: etiology, diagnostics and management based on the medical literature and experience in a university hospital

BACKGROUND

Bowel dysfunction after spinal surgery is often underestimated and if not treated in a timely manner can lead to undesirable surgical interventions or fatal complications. The current medical literature primarily focuses on bowel dysfunction as a result of spinal injury.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review is to explore this topic in evaluating current evidence regarding the causes of acute bowel dysfunction after elective spinal surgery, primarily the thoracolumbar spine. Since available evidence for recommendations of treatment is scarce, an interdisciplinary management approach for treatment of bowel dysfunction following spinal surgery is also formulated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An extensive literature search was carried out on PubMed. Keywords that were used in the search included bowel dysfunction, obstruction, postoperative ileus, spinal surgery, spinal fusion, constipation, opioid-induced constipation, colonic pseudo-obstruction, ischemic colitis, immobility-induced bowel changes, epidural anesthesia and diet. Relevant studies were chosen and included in the review. The treatment approach used in the spine center of a university hospital was included.

RESULTS

Current research mainly focuses on investigating the nature and symptomatology of chronic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Emphasis on the acute phase of bowel dysfunction in patients after elective spinal surgery is lacking. The comorbidities that exacerbate bowel dysfunction postoperatively are well-defined. There has been refinement and expansion of the pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment that could be implemented. Enough evidence exists to provide sufficient care.

CONCLUSION

Management of acute bowel dysfunction after spinal surgery requires a comprehensive and individualized approach, encompassing comorbidities, behavioral changes, medications and surgery. Close supervision and timely treatment could minimize further complications. Research is required to identify patients who are at a higher risk of developing bowel dysfunction after specific spinal procedures.

Potential risk factors for constipation in the community

Constipation is a common community health problem. There are many factors that are widely thought to be associated with constipation but real-world evidence of these associations is difficult to locate. These potential risk factors may be categorised as demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors. This review presents the available evidence for each factor by an assessment of quantitative data from cross-sectional studies of community-dwelling adults published over the last 30 years. It appears that there is evidence of an association between constipation and female gender, residential location, physical activity and some health-related factors such as self-rated health, some surgery, certain medical conditions and certain medications. The available evidence for most other factors is either conflicting or insufficient. Therefore, further research is necessary to determine if each factor is truly associated with constipation and whether it can be regarded as a potential risk factor. It is recommended that studies investigating a broad range of factors are conducted in populations in community settings. Multivariate analyses should be performed to account for all possible confounding factors. In this way, valuable evidence can be accumulated for a better understanding of potential risk factors for constipation in the community.

Impact of chronic constipation on health-related quality of life and work productivity in Japan

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The impact of chronic constipation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity, and healthcare resource use in Japan is not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the humanistic burden of respondents with chronic constipation to respondents without chronic constipation and to respondents with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), respectively.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study collected demographic and general health data and HRQoL data as measured by the Short Form 12-Item (Version 2) Health Survey and EuroQol 5-dimension health surveys. Health impacts on employment-related activities and indirect costs were measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. Propensity score matching was used to identify a control group without chronic constipation. Multivariate generalized linear models were used to identify potential factors that may impact the outcomes of respondents.

RESULTS

A total of 30 001 individuals responded to the Japan National Health and Wellness Survey 2017, whereof 3373 (11.2%) reported having chronic constipation; 963 were physician diagnosed. Compared with matched controls, patients with physician-diagnosed chronic constipation had lower mean HRQoL scores and higher mean absenteeism, presenteeism, total Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and indirect costs. Physician-diagnosed chronic constipation was associated with a higher health burden than T2DM, IBS, and GERD.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic constipation is associated with a considerable health burden, which is higher compared with T2DM, IBS, and GERD. These results suggest an urgent need for effective treatment of Japanese patients with chronic constipation to improve their quality of life.

The protective effects of yellow tea extract against loperamide-induced constipation in mice

Yellow tea, a rare type tea from China, has a rich breadth of functional ingredients and benefits the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is not clear whether the yellow tea extract can alleviate constipation. Therefore, we used loperamide-induced constipation in mice to evaluate the effects of yellow tea extract. Fifty Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal, model, low-dose yellow tea extract, low-dose yellow tea extract prevention group, and high-dose yellow tea extract prevention group. Mice were administered yellow tea extract for 5 weeks followed by loperamide-induced constipation for the final 2 weeks. The results showed that yellow tea extract alleviated constipation symptoms by improving the fecal water content, defecation weight, and gastrointestinal transit rate. Yellow tea extract intervention also protected colon tissue, regulated serum neurotransmitters, and decreased the vasoactive intestinal peptide level. Furthermore, qRT-PCR indicated that yellow tea extract regulated genes associated with the constipation state, raised 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 and reduced AQP3 and AQP4 mRNA expression. Moreover, we found that yellow tea extract changed the gut microbiota composition. Community diversity and richness were increased and principal co-ordinate analysis demonstrated that the yellow tea extract prophylaxis groups differed from the model group. Difference analysis indicated that yellow tea extract increased Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006, and Bifidobacterium and decreased norank_f_Clostridiales_vadinBB60_group, unclassified_o_Bacteroidales, and Bacteroides, which are correlated with constipation. Based on these results, we believe that regular yellow tea consumption can effectively alleviate constipation.

Aster tataricus alleviates constipation by antagonizing the binding of acetylcholine to muscarinic receptor and inhibiting Ca2+ influx

BACKGROUND

The dried root and rhizome of Aster tataricus (RA), is a traditional Chinese medicine has been used for more than 2000 years with the function of antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic. Ancient books and modern pharmacological researches demonstrated that RA may have the function of moistening intestines and relieving constipation, but there was a lack of systematic evidence. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanisms of ethanol extract of Aster tataricus (ATE) in treating constipation from in vivo to in vitro.

METHODS

In vivo, the ATE was studied in loperamide-induced constipation of mice. In vitro, different concentrations of ATE was tested separately or cumulatively on spontaneous and agonists-induced contractions of isolated rat duodenum strips.

RESULTS

In vivo, at doses of 0.16, 0.8 g/mL, ATE showed significantly promotion of the small intestinal charcoal transit, decrease of the amount of remnant fecal, and increase of the content of fecal water in colon. In addition, ATE could effectively relieve colonic pathological damage caused by loperamide as well. In vitro, with the cumulative concentration increase of ATE from 0.8 to 6.4 mg/mL, it could significantly decrease the contraction caused by KCl or Ach, and gradually restore to near base tension value.Meanwhile, it could also partially but significantly inhibit the contractions induced by Ach and CaCl2 on rat duodenum in a concentration related manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Taking all these findings together, it could be speculated that ATE may attenuate constipation mainly through antagonizing the binding of acetylcholine to muscarinic receptor, inhibiting Ca2+ influx and anti-inflammation.

A Narrative Review on the Update in the Prevalence of Infantile Colic, Regurgitation, and Constipation in Young Children: Implications of the ROME IV Criteria

Regurgitation, colic, and constipation are frequently reported Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) in the first few years of life. In 2016, the diagnostic criteria for FGIDs were changed from ROME III to ROME IV. This review assesses the prevalence of the most frequent FGIDs (colic, regurgitation and constipation) among children aged 0-5 years after the introduction of the later criteria. Articles published from January 1, 2016 to May 1, 2021 were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar using relevant keywords. A total of 12 articles were further analyzed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This review consists of two studies (17%) from the Middle East, three (25%) from Asia, two (17%) from the USA, three (25%) from Europe, and one (8%) from Africa. Three studies (25%) were based on data obtained from healthcare professionals, while the rest were parent or caregiver reports. About half of the retrieved studies used the ROME IV criteria. Among infants aged 0-6 months, the reported prevalence of colic ranged between 10-15%, whilst that of regurgitation was 33.9%, and constipation was 1.5%. Among infants aged 0-12 months, the reported prevalence of regurgitation and constipation were 3.4-25.9% and 1.3-17.7%, respectively. The reported prevalence of constipation was 1.3-26% among children aged 13-48 months and 13% among children aged 4-18 years. Despite the large variations due to differences in diagnostic criteria, study respondents and age group, the prevalence of infantile colic was higher, while that for infantile regurgitation and constipation were similar using the ROME IV or III criteria.

Effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis MN-Gup on constipation and the composition of gut microbiota

Probiotics have been reported to be associated with the alleviation of constipation. The aim of this study was to detect and determine the effect of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis MN-Gup (MN-Gup) on the alleviation of constipation in BALB/c mice and humans, and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its effect by measuring changes in the concentration of short-chain fatty acids and the composition of microbes in human faeces. BALB/c mice were given MN-Gup by gavage for 14 days. On the 8^th day of this treatment, constipation was induced by the application of diphenoxylate via gavage. The results showed that MN-Gup significantly decreased the first black stool defecation time, and significantly increased black faecal wet weight, black faecal number and the gastric-intestinal transit rate (P<0.05), thereby relieving constipation. In humans, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to investigate the effect of MN-Gup in adults with functional constipation. After 4 weeks of intervention with placebo or MN-Gup yogurt, constipation-related symptoms (including defecation frequency, stool consistency, straining and incomplete feeling during defecation) in the constipated subjects were significantly improved in the two groups, but not different between the groups at the end of the intervention. The concentration of acetate increased significantly in the MN-Gup group compared to the placebo group and before ingestion. Significant changes in the composition of gut microbiota were found after intake of MN-Gup yogurt when compared to placebo. The relative abundances of acetate-producing Bifidobacterium, Ruminoccaceae_UCG-002 and Ruminoccaceae_UCG-005 were significantly increased after intake of MN-Gup yogurt. These results showed that MN-Gup could relieve constipation related to increased acetate-producing Bifidobacterium, Ruminoccaceae_UCG-002 and Ruminoccaceae_UCG-005.

Constipation and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Dementia

Constipation is one of the most frequent non-motor problems in older adults. As constipation is commonly ignored by dementia patients, it is not usually reported on time. Constipation has a serious impact on the activity of daily living and quality of life in dementia patients. The relationships between constipation, demographic variables, and the nutritional status of patients with dementia remain unknown. This study aimed to assess the possible factors associated with constipation. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from January to November 2019. This hospital is a medical center and the main referral hospital of southern Taiwan, serving 3 million inhabitants. In total, 119 patients with dementia were evaluated using the Rome III diagnostic criteria for functional constipation. There were 30 patients with dementia included in the constipation group and 89 patients with dementia included in the no constipation group. Mini-Nutritional Assessment and 3-day diet diary records were employed. The clinical dementia rating score was used to evaluate the severity of dementia in patients of the outpatient clinic. Approximately 25.2% of dementia patients had constipation. Patients in the dementia with constipation group were older, had severer dementia, and displayed a lower water intake. After multivariable adjustment, low liquid consumption was the predictor of constipation among patients with dementia. The findings support the clinical recommendations to treat constipation with an increased liquid intake, but not exercise, in dementia patients.

Lifestyle Habits Associated with Poor Defecation Habit among Pupils in Japan

PURPOSE

Not enough attention has been paid to defecation habits in Japan. This study aimed to emphasize the importance of defecation habits on health and function in Japanese pupils.

METHODS

Using multiple regression analysis, 2,722 questionnaires obtained from pupils in grades 5 to 12 were analyzed to determine lifestyle habits associated with defecation frequency.

RESULTS

Significant regression formulae for defecation scores were obtained for all school types: elementary school (ES) (adjusted R2=0.08, p<0.001), junior high school (JHS) (0.09, p<0.001), and senior high school (SHS) (0.15, p<0.001). The following factors were associated with poorer defecation scores, according to school type: female gender (all 3 school types), breakfast skipping (elementary and JHSs), lower physical activity (JHSs and SHSs), and longer school-day screen time (elementary and SHSs). In addition, poorer self-reported academic performance scores in ES, less standardized body mass index (BMI) in JHS, and shorter non-school- day screen time scores in SHS, were associated with poorer defecation scores.

CONCLUSION

Poor defecation frequency showed significant associations with various lifestyle habits, such as breakfast skipping, physical activity, and screen time, among pupils. Academic performance and standardized BMI were also associated with defecation frequency. More attention should be paid to defecation frequency to sustain health and function in pupils.

Clinical Characteristics of Different Primary Constipation Subtypes in a Chinese Population

GOAL

To investigate the clinical characteristics of different primary constipation subtypes, including symptom clusters, psychological problems, quality of life (QOL), and to explore the role of constipation symptoms and the mental state in the QOL of constipation subtypes.

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic constipation (CC) may be unsatisfied with their therapy and suffer recurrent symptoms. Different constipation subtypes require different treatments; therefore, it is important to identify the features of different constipation subtypes.

STUDY

CC patients (n=206) visiting our gastroenterology clinic were studied. CC subtypes were diagnosed using the Rome-IV criteria. We used validated questionnaires to investigate the symptom severity, mental state, and QOL of patients. QOL was assessed with the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) and SF-36 questionnaire. Results of symptom, mental and QOL scores are expressed as means with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Three groups of CC patients differed in their constipation scoring system and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) total scores, and both were significantly higher in the functional defecation disorder (FDD) group compared with that in the normal transit constipation (NTC) group. FDD patients tended to have more severe "abdominal symptoms," "rectal symptoms" than NTC group. No significant difference in General Anxiety Disorder 7-item or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 results was found among the 3 groups. Significantly more patients with FDD suffered more "physical discomfort" and had poorer QOL in the "physical function" dimension of SF-36. FDD and NTC patients mainly showed associations between CC-related QOL and constipation severity, while slow transit constipation patients' QOL was significantly associated with anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSION

Patients with FDD suffer more severe constipation symptoms and have a lower QOL than patients in other CC subgroups. FDD and NTC patients' QOL is mainly linked to constipation symptoms, while that of slow transit constipation is mainly related to mental states such as anxiety and depression.

Pediatricians' perceptions and practice of the management of constipation in Thailand

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that physicians' perception and practice can differ from proposed guidelines with regards to constipation. Most studies were performed in developed countries but only a few in developing nations. We therefore aimed to study Thai pediatricians' perceptions of the management of constipation.

METHODS

We performed a national survey using an 37-item online questionnaire that included questions about demographics, perceptions, and practice related to constipation in children. We used a five-point scale to determine perception in each aspect (5 = strongly agreed; 1 = strongly disagreed).

RESULTS

We received 275 responses (response rate of 11.0%). Most were female (69.1%), subspecialists (55.6%) and worked in a government-based setting (69.5%). We noted that only 51.8% considered disimpaction if physical examination is suggestive of fecal impaction. Most pediatricians used lactulose for both disimpaction and maintenance phases (83.4 and 91.9%, respectively); however, pediatricians perceived that the caregivers of constipated children were concerned about tolerance or dependence of most commonly used laxatives, ranged from 45.8 to 63.8%. We also found that recently graduated pediatricians were more likely than older individuals to provide advice on fluid intake, toilet training, and laxative use, and to consider polyethylene glycol for disimpaction (P = 0.003, 0.02, 0.004, and 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of pediatricians who consider disimpaction remained suboptimal. Providing appropriate knowledge on pharmacological management, especially disimpaction and issues regarding laxatives, may be helpful for pediatricians and caregivers. Education may also need to be tailored to various pediatricians' experience and work settings.

Maren Pills Improve Constipation via Regulating AQP3 and NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Slow Transit Constipation In Vitro and In Vivo

Background

Maren pills have been used to treat constipation. Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) plays a vital role in regulating water transfer in the colon. It has been reported that the downregulation of AQP3 can regulate liquid water metabolism and intestinal permeability in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rats' colon via NF-κB pathway. In this study, we investigated whether the laxative effect of Maren pills is associated with the regulation of AQP3 and NF-κB signaling pathway in the colon.

Methods

The compound diphenoxylate suspension-induced STC rats received Maren pills intragastrically for 1 consecutive week to evaluate the laxative effect of Maren pills involving the regulation of AQP3 and NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, human intestinal epithelial cells (HT-29) were treated with drug serum to obtain in vitro data.

Results

Our results revealed that treatment with Maren pills increased the stool number, moisture content of feces, and intestinal transit rate in a dose-dependent manner. Maren pills significantly increased the AQP3, fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and protein kinase A (PKA) proteins in the colon of rats and in HT-29 cells. Mechanistically, Maren pills obviously inhibited the activation of NF-κB pathway in the colon of rats and in HT-29 cells.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the laxative effect of Maren pills is associated with the increased expression of AQP3 by downregulating NF-κB signal pathway.

Defecation function and quality of life in patients with slow-transit constipation after colectomy

BACKGROUND

Although total or subtotal colectomy for slow-transit constipation (STC) has been proven to be a definite treatment, the associated defecation function and quality of life (QOL) are rarely studied.

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of surgery for STC regarding defecation function and QOL.

METHODS

From March 2013 to September 2017, 30 patients undergoing surgery for STC in our department were analyzed. Preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative 3-mo, 6-mo, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up details were recorded. Defecation function was assessed by bowel movements, abdominal pain, bloating, straining, laxative, enema use, diarrhea, and the Wexner constipation and incontinence scales. QOL was evaluated using the gastrointestinal QOL index and the 36-item short form survey.

RESULTS

The majority of patients (93.1%, 27/29) stated that they benefited from the operation at the 2-year follow-up. At each time point of the follow-up, the number of bowel movements per week significantly increased compared with that of the preoperative conditions (P < 0.05). Similarly, compared with the preoperative values, a marked decline was observed in bloating, straining, laxative, and enema use at each time point of the follow-up (P < 0.05). Postoperative diarrhea could be controlled effectively and notably improved at the 2-year follow-up. The Wexner incontinence scores at 6-mo, 1-year, and 2-year were notably lower than those at the 3-mo follow-up (P < 0.05). Compared with those of the preoperative findings, the Wexner constipation scores significantly decreased following surgery (P < 0.05). Thus, it was reasonable to find that the gastrointestinal QOL index scores clearly increase (P < 0.05) and that the 36-item short form survey results displayed considerable improvements in six spheres (role physical, role emotional, physical pain, vitality, mental health, and general health) following surgery.

CONCLUSION

Total or subtotal colectomy for STC is not only effective in alleviating constipation-related symptoms but also in enhancing patients’ QOL.

Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine in children constipation: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine methods for constipation in the pediatric population.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Medical literature search was performed in several databases for a variety of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in childhood constipation. Databases included Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google scholar and a number of Persian databases including IranDoc, Magiran and SID. No time limitation was determined. Clinical trials or case series that had evaluated the effectiveness of CAM therapies in functional constipation of 1-18 year old children were included. Papers not in English or Persian language were excluded. Related articles were screened independently by two reviewers according to their titles and abstracts. A data extraction form was filled in for each eligible paper. Quality assessment of eligible documents was also performed.

RESULTS

30 studies were included, comprising 27 clinical trials and 3 case series. Ten documents were on herbal medicine, nine on traditional medicine, ten on manual therapies and one on homeopathy. Except for two herbal and one reflexology interventions, all studies reported positive effects on childhood constipation, with the majority being statistically significant. As the number of studies in each method was limited, we could not perform a meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

The scarcity of research on the efficacy and safety of different types of complementary and alternative medicine methods in children with constipation necessitates conducting more studies in each field. Graphical abstract.

Comparative efficacy of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for chronic idiopathic constipation in China: a Bayesian network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To provide evidence for medical management of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in China based on comparisons of all clinical practical interventions using Bayesian network meta-analysis.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Wanfang Database (inception to May 2019) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for CIC in Chinese people. Only RCTs that recruited participants aged over 18 and diagnosed with CIC by the Rome II, III or IV criteria were included. We used three outcomes to examine efficacy. The risk ratio (RR) of the responder rate, based on ≥3 spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) per week after treatment, was the primary outcome, and the SBM count per week and the Bristol score (BS) were secondary outcomes. In addition, adverse effects (AEs) were also considered a secondary outcome to evaluate safety. We conducted Bayesian network meta-analysis with random effects, and the RR or mean difference with its 95% credible interval was calculated. In addition, we ranked all treatments via their cumulative curves (SUCRA) and assessed the quality of evidence according to the GRADE criteria.

RESULTS

We included a total of 42 trials (6820 participants) of 20 grouped interventions that included pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments. For the primary outcome, fourteen interventions were significantly better than placebo, and Probiotics plus Mosapride (PB + MP) appeared superior to others (GRADE quality of evidence: Moderate to Low), followed by Prucalopride (PP) (High to Low) and Electroacupuncture (EA) (High to Low). For SBM, Compound sodium bicarbonate suppository (CSBS) appeared to be best, with an SUCRA value of 90% (High to Low). For BS, Lactulose plus Probiotics (LT + PB) was superior to others (Moderate to Low), followed by Polyethylene glycol (PEG) (High to Moderate). Although all interventions appeared non-significant when compared with placebo in terms of adverse effects, Lactulose plus Mosapride showed greater risk than others on ranking probability.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the GRADE assessment, PB + MP, PP and EA may be the priory options with moderate certainty in the quality of evidence for the primary outcome. For SBM, a CSBS may be the best option with moderate certainty in the quality of evidence. For BS, PEG may be the priory option with high certainty in the quality of evidence. However, due to a lack of high certainty in the quality of evidence, caution is needed when recommending the interventions. Because of the limitations, an increased number of trials are required for more accurate results.

Prebiotic UG1601 mitigates constipation-related events in association with gut microbiota: A randomized placebo-controlled intervention study

BACKGROUND

Constipation is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder and its etiology is multifactorial. Growing evidence suggests that intestinal dysbiosis is associated with the development of constipation. Prebiotics are subjected to bacterial fermentation in the gut to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which can help relieve constipation symptoms. The prebiotic UG1601 consists of inulin, lactitol, and aloe vera gel, which are known laxatives, but randomized, controlled clinical trials that examine the effects of this supplement on gut microbiota composition are lacking.

AIM

To assess the efficacy of the prebiotic UG1601 in suppressing constipation-related adverse events in subjects with mild constipation.

METHODS

Adults with a stool frequency of less than thrice a week were randomized to receive either prebiotics or a placebo supplement for 4 wk. All participants provided their fecal and blood samples at baseline and at the end of intervention. Gastrointestinal symptoms and stool frequency were evaluated. The concentrations of serum endotoxemia markers and fecal SCFAs were determined. The relative abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria and the gut microbial community in the responders and non-responders in the prebiotics supplementation group were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in gastrointestinal symptoms between groups, although the prebiotic group showed greater symptom improvement. However, after prebiotic usage, serum cluster of differentiation (CD) 14 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations were significantly decreased (CD14, P = 0.012; LPS, P < 0.001). The change in LPS concentration was significantly larger in the prebiotic group than in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Fecal SCFAs concentrations did not differ between groups, while the relative abundance of Roseburia hominis, a major butyrate producer, was significantly increased in the prebiotic group (P = 0.045). The abundances of the phylum Firmicutes and the family Lachnospiraceae (phylum Firmicutes, class Clostridia) (P = 0.009) were decreased in the responders within the prebiotic group. In addition, the proportions of the phylum Firmicutes, the class Clostridia, and the order Clostridiales were inversely correlated with several fecal SCFAs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Alterations in gut microbiota composition, including a decrease in the phylum Firmicutes and an increase in butyrate-producing bacteria, following prebiotic UG1601 supplementation might help alleviate symptom scores and endotoxemia.

Lactobacillus casei Strain Shirota Alleviates Constipation in Adults by Increasing the Pipecolinic Acid Level in the Gut

The benefits of probiotics for constipation are widely accepted, but the mechanisms involving gut metabolites are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on constipated patients and revealed that a metabolite mediator is involved in the LcS-induced constipation alleviation. Sixteen constipated patients and 22 non-constipated participants were recruited. The subjects consumed 100 mL of an LcS beverage (10⁸ CFU/mL) per day for 28 days. The fecal non-volatile metabolites were determined by GC/MS, and the targeted metabolites were further verified in a constipated mouse model. In constipated patients, LcS intervention significantly improved defecation frequency (from 4.81 to 7.81 times per week, p < 0.05), stool consistency (from 2.52 to 3.68, p < 0.05) and constipation-related symptoms. A total of 14 non-volatile fecal metabolites were obtained as potential constipation-related metabolites that were regulated by LcS. Among these metabolites, pipecolinic acid (PIPA) had a significant positive correlation with defecation frequency in constipated patients. PIPA significantly promoted the small intestinal propulsive rate (from 25.45 to 39.68%) and increased the number of fecal pellets (from 30.38 to 57.38 pellets) in constipated mice (p < 0.05). The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and acetylcholine (ACh) in colonic tissue may be partly involved in PIPA-mediated constipation alleviation. In conclusion, PIPA was a metabolic mediator in the gut that participated in LcS-induced constipation alleviation.

Exercise therapy in patients with constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Exercise therapy has shown significant efficacy as a means of treating various intestinal diseases, but its role in the treatment of constipation is still unclear. The purpose of this study was thus to analyze the effects of exercise on constipation by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and three Chinese databases [Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)] were searched for relevant studies published through June 2018. Eligible studies were selected in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The main results of interest were changes in gastrointestinal symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of nine randomized controlled trials involving 680 participants were included. Eight studies involved aerobic exercise and only one study involved anaerobic exercise. The aerobic exercises included were Qigong, walking and physical movement. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that exercise had significant benefits as a means of improving the symptoms of constipation patients [relative risk (RR) = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.19, 3.27; p = .009; I²=91.3%]. Subgroup analyses showed that aerobic exercise (RR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.36; p = .000; I²=88%) similarly had a positive effect on constipation. However, these results were associated with a high risk of bias.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that exercise may be a feasible and effective treatment option for patients with constipation. However, due to methodological shortcomings, the real effect of this intervention cannot be definitively determined. Researchers should, therefore, design more rigorous studies in order to evaluate the effect of exercise on constipation.

Differential Effects of Lactobacillus casei Strain Shirota on Patients With Constipation Regarding Stool Consistency in China

Background/Aims

Probiotics are expected to confer benefits on patients with constipation, but how probiotics act on constipated patients with variable stool consistencies remains unclear. We investigated the effect of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on constipation-related symptoms, especially stool consistency, of constipated patients.

Methods

Constipated patients meeting the Rome III criteria were divided into 3 groups according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS): hard (hard stool [HS], BSFS < 3), normal (normal stool [NS], ≤ 3 BSFS ≤ 4), and soft (soft stool [SS], 4 < BSFS ≤ 5) stools. Subjects in each group consumed a probiotic beverage containing 10¹⁰ colony-forming units of LcS daily for 28 days.

Results

LcS intervention significantly alleviated constipation-related symptoms and increased defecation frequency in all subjects. Four weeks of LcS supplementation softened the hard stools in HS, hardened the soft stools in SS, and did not alter the ideal stool consistency in NS. The short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were highest in SS, followed by NS and HS. LcS intervention increased the stool SCFA levels in HS but reduced or did not alter the levels in NS and SS. LcS intervention increased the Pseudobutyrivibrio and Roseburia abundances in HS and decreased the Pseudobutyrivibrio abundance in SS.

Conclusions

LcS supplementation improved the constipation-related symptoms in constipated subjects. Differences in baseline stool consistency could result in different anti-constipation effects of LcS intervention. LcS balanced the stool consistency—softened the HS and hardened the SS. These effects could be associated with modulation of the gut microbiota and SCFA production.

Prevalence of constipation among central region population, Riyadh and Qassim provinces, Saudi Arabia, 2018-2019

Background

Due to the lack of data and studies concerning the prevalence of constipation in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed at determining the level of prevalence among central region population in Saudi Arabia, specifically in Riyadh and Qassim provinces.

Aims

To determine the prevalence of constipation, to estimate the overall prevalence of constipation among the society, and to identify risk factors of constipation.

Materials and Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 543 individuals were covered, both males and females in the targeted areas. A standardized questionnaire was used to cover eight different aspects concerning constipation. SPSS package was used to analyze the data collected from the sample.

Results

The results of the scoring system showed that the prevalence of constipation among the sampled individuals is only 4.4%, whereas those whose result indicates no suffering from constipation represented 95.6%. Constipation is more prevalent among females (79.2%) rather than males (20.8%). Moreover, constipation is more sever among those who are between 20- and 35-year old, while it reaches 0% among old people (over 51 years). Riyadh residents are more likely to suffer from constipation rather than Qassim residents. In Riyadh, 83.3% suffered from constipation, whereas the percentage in Qassim was 16.7%. The results show also that constipation is more prevalent among those who eat fiber-rich food once in a week, who are getting stressed all the time, nonsmokers, and who get dehydrated and do not carry a bottle of water. There is a significant relationship between suffering from constipation and only two variables, which are regularity of being stressed and regularity of getting dehydrated. The test value for these two variables were (0.0) in the two cases.

Conclusion

The prevalence of constipation is relatively very low among population of central region in Saudi Arabia.

Expert consensus on the assessment and treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly

It is of significant importance to scientifically assess and efficiently address chronic constipation in the elderly population. Therefore, organizing some domestic experts of geriatrics and gastroenterology, we have formulated this consensus to reference for clinical staff.