Use of synbiotic in the treatment of constipated patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Authors

  • Maria Lúcia Oliveira Dourado Siqueira Ambulatório ELA/HUOL
  • Júlia Leite Castro Ambulatório ELA/HUOL
  • Silvia Helena Nardi Baroni
  • Sancha Helena de Lima Vale PPGCSA - UFRN
  • Camila Xavier Alves PPGCSA - UFRN
  • Márcia Marília Gomes Dantas PPGCSA - UFRN
  • Karina Marques Vermeulen UFRN
  • Lúcia Dantas Leite Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1983-652X.2013.3.13548

Keywords:

nutrition, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, constipation

Abstract

Introduction: The use of synbiotic in the management of constipation seems to be promising, particularly in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which have constipation as a frequent symptom.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on intestinal function of constipated patients with ALS.

Materials and Methods: This interventional study was performed with ALS patients followed at the ALS multidisciplinary ambulatory of Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes (HUOL) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). Subjects were arranged in three groups: 10 healthy controls (group 1), 10 ALS constipated patients (group 2), and 10 ALS non-constipated patients (group 3). All subjects received synbiotic supplementation (6g/day) during 15 days and their intestinal function was monitored daily.

Results: We studied 30 subjects (13 male and 17 female) with mean age 54.3 ± 10.6 years. Group 1 didn’t show major modifications in the parameters observed. Nevertheless, groups 2 and 3 improved the intestinal function, with increased frequency of bowel movements, improved stool consistency and less evacuation effort. These benefits were observed after one-week of synbiotic supplementation.

Conclusion: Regular use of synbiotic can improve intestinal function in both constipated and non-constipated ALS patients.

Author Biographies

Maria Lúcia Oliveira Dourado Siqueira, Ambulatório ELA/HUOL

Graduada em Nutrição pela UFRN, Especialista em Saúde Pública pela UNAERP, em Clínica e Terapêutica Nutricional pela IPCE/UNIGUAÇU, e em Nutrição Funcional pela VP Consultoria. Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Júlia Leite Castro, Ambulatório ELA/HUOL

Graduada em Nutrição pela UFRN, Especialista em Nutrição Clínica pela Universidade Gama Filho. Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Silvia Helena Nardi Baroni

Graduada em Nutrição pela Faculdade São Camilo, Especialista em Nutrição Clínica Avançada pela Universidade Potiguar. Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Sancha Helena de Lima Vale, PPGCSA - UFRN

Graduada em Nutrição pelo Centro Universitário Nilton Lins, Graduada em Farmácia pela UFES, Especialista em Saúde Pública e Programa Saúde da Família pelo Centro Universitário São Camilo e em Nutrição Hospitalar pela Escola Superior de Ciências da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Doutora em Ciências da Saúde na UFRN. Professora da Universidade Potiguar (UnP).  Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Camila Xavier Alves, PPGCSA - UFRN

Graduada em Nutrição pela UFRN, Especialista em Nutrição Clínica pela FARN, Mestre em Ciências da Saúde na UFRN. Professora da Universidade Potiguar (UnP). Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Márcia Marília Gomes Dantas, PPGCSA - UFRN

Graduada em Nutrição pela UFRN. Mestre em Ciências da Saúde na UFRN. Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Karina Marques Vermeulen, UFRN

Nutricionista do Ambulatório de ELA no Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes.

Lúcia Dantas Leite, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Gutricionista Especialista em Nutrição Clínica Doutora em Ciências da Saúde Profa. Adjunta do Departamento de Nutrição da UFRN

Downloads

Published

2013-12-19

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Original Articles

License

COPYRIGHT
The submission of originals to Ciência & Saúde implies the transfer by the authors of the right for publication. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication. If the authors wish to include the same data into another publication, they must cite Ciência & Saúde as the site of original publication.

CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
As this journal is open access, the articles are allowed free use in scientific and educational applications, with citation of the source.
According to the type of Creative Commons License (CC-BY 4.0) adopted by Ciência & Saúde , the user must respect the requirements below.

You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

However, only under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests Ciência & Saúde endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.

For more details on the Creative Commons license, please follow the link in the footer of this website.