Comparison of the effect of polyethylene glycol and simultaneous administration of polyethylene glycolwith probiotics in the treatment of chronic functional constipation: a clinical trial

Background and aims: Constipation is one of the most common issues in pediatrics. The aim of this study was to compare the effect ofpolyethylene glycol and the simultaneous administration of polyethylene glycol along with probiotics in the treatment of chronic functionalconstipation.Materials and Methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, ۱۵۰ children with chronic functional constipation referred to ImamAli Clinic affiliated with Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences from ۲۰۱۷ to ۲۰۱۸ were included. The first group (A) consumed ۱ g/kg of body weight per day of water-soluble polyethylene glycol powder and the second group (B) consumed a probiotic powder and ۱ g/kgof body weight of the water-soluble polyethylene glycol powder daily. In weeks ۰, ۱, and ۲, questionnaires were filled out by the parentsof the children and the data were analyzed.Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference in any of the variables between groups A and B (P = ۰.۰۷) includingthe frequency of fecal excretion in week ۱ (۷۷% and ۷۱%) and week ۲ (۴% and ۵.۴%) and stool consistency in week ۱ (۴% and ۶.۷%)and week ۲ (۸۶.۷% and ۹۲%). Moreover, there was no significant difference between groups A and B in any of the variables frequency ofpainful excretion in week ۱ (۷۴% and ۷۳%, respectively) and week ۲ (۵.۳% and ۴%, respectively), frequency of abdominal pain in week۱ (۶۱.۳% and ۴۹.۳%, respectively) and week ۲ (۴% and ۵.۳%, respectively), and the frequency of fecal incontinence in week ۱ (۲۲.۷۷%and ۱۸.۷%, respectively) and week ۲ (۶.۷% and ۱.۳%) (P > ۰.۰۵, respectively).Conclusion: Our results indicated that the administration of probiotic supplement (Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillous Bulgaricus) has no effect on the improvement of symptoms in children with chronic constipation.