Subjects with gas-related complaints exhibit impaired handling of intestinal gas loads and we hypothesized that inulin would have a beneficial effect. Aim: to determine the effect of a prebiotic chicory-derived inulin-type fructan on the tolerance of intestinal gas. Methods. Placebo-controlled, parallel, randomized and double-blind trial study. Subjects with abdominal symptoms and reduced tolerance of intestinal gas (selected by a pre-test) will receive either inulin (8 g/d, n=18) or maltodextrin as a placebo (8 g/d, n=18) for 4 wk. A gas challenge test (4 h jejunal gas infusion at 12 mL/min while measuring abdominal symptoms and gas retention for 3 h) will be performed before and at the end of the intervention phase. Gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habits (using daily questionnaires for 1 wk) and fecal bifidobacteria counts will be measured before and at the end of the intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
67
Administered in 4 g sacchets taken in 200 mL liquid during breakfast and dinner for 4 week intervention period
Administered in 4 g sacchets taken in 200 mL liquid during breakfast and dinner for 4 week intervention period
Perception of intestinal gas infusion
Effect of inulin intake (change from baseline with inulin versus placebo) on the tolerance of the gas challenge test, measured as the perception score of digestive sensations during the gas challenge test. At each time point, the highest score instead of the mean or cumulative scores will be computed for comparisons; these scores will be averaged over the last 60 min of the test in each subject; the differences between basal and intervention periods (inulin or placebo) will be calculated.
Time frame: 60 last min of the 180 min gas infusion test
Intestinal gas retention
Effect of inulin intake (change from baseline with inulin versus placebo) on the volume of gas retention (volume infused minus volume evacuated) measured as the average value over the last 60 min of the gas infusion test.
Time frame: 60 last min of the 180 min gas infusion test
Digestive well-being
Effect of inulin intake (change from baseline with inulin versus placebo) on digestive well-being measured by daily questionnaires on - 5 to + 5 score scales and averaged over 6 days.
Time frame: 6 last days of intervention
Abdominal discomfort
Effect of inulin intake (change from baseline with inulin versus placebo) on abdominal discomfort measured by daily questionnaires on 0 to 10 score scales and averaged over 6 days.
Time frame: 6 last days of intervention
Bowel habit
Effect of inulin intake (change from baseline with inulin versus placebo) on the number of bowel movements measured by daily questionnaires during 6 days.
Time frame: 6 last days of intervention
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.