[The relationship between intake of dietary fiber and chronic constipation in children]

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the feeding patterns of children with chronic constipation, in particular dietary fibres, energy and fluid intake and their influence on colonic transit time. In addition, the effect of dietary recommendations regarding fibres was assessed.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Method: Children with at least 2 months of complaints related to constipation were enrolled and both dietary intake and colonic transit time were evaluated. After dietary and laxative treatment, in some combined with biofeedback training, and a follow-up of 6 months, a randomized sample were again evaluated regarding their transit times and dietary patterns.

Results: In 73 consecutive children mean fibre intake was the same as in healthy controls, although energy and fluid intake were lower. Colonic transit time was increased compared with healthy controls and no relationship was established between fibre intake and transit time. At 6 months no significant increase in mean fibre intake was observed and no relationship was found between either transit time and change in fibre intake or cure and change in fibre intake. In the cured patients no increase of their mean fibre intake could be observed.

Conclusion: The amount of dietary fibres played no pathogenic part in chronic constipation. Dietary advice did not change the mean fibre content of the diet. In addition, changes in fibre intake had no effect on colonic transit time or cure.