The Effect of Synbiotics on the Constipation of Stroke Patients Admitted to ICU

Background and Objective: Constipation is the predominant gastrointestinal complication experienced after a stroke and can result in increased intracranial pressure. The main treatment for constipation is symptomatic treatment including taking laxatives and increasing dietary fiber; this treatment is associated with complications and limitations. Due to the positive effects of probiotics in the treatment of digestive problems, this study aimed to investigate the effect of synbiotic supplements on the constipation of stroke patients admitted to the ICU. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, subjects were randomly divided into two groups; intervention (n = 33) and control (n = 32). Defecation frequency was measured before initiating the study. Patients in the intervention group, in addition to routine treatment, received synbiotic supplements, every 12 hours for a week while the control group received only conventional treatment. During the one-week study, the frequency of defecation was measured and recorded. Results: In the experimental group; the average number of defecations was more than once a day; (1.22); while in the control group this value in one day and two days equaled 0.62 and 1.24 respectively (P less-than 0.0001). Conclusion: This study showed that synbiotic supplementation in stroke patients increased the frequency of defecation. Therefore probiotics can be used as a non-drug therapy in the treatment of constipation in these patients.