Опыт использования метапребиотических продуктов в питании детей с запорами

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the effect of metaprebiotic products on the state of intestinal function in children with neurological pathology. Patients and methods. This study included 32 children with neurological pathology suffering from chronic constipation and gut microbiota dysbiosis: 13 boys and 19 girls aged between 6 months and 6 years (mean age: 4.6 ± 1.6 years). Patients were divided into a study group and a comparison group. The study group received a specialized product with metaprebiotic properties in addition to the standard diet for 14 days. Anthropometric characteristics, product tolerance, including stool frequency and consistency, were evaluated, and the metabolic activity of anaerobic bacteria was analyzed based on the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stool samples by gas-liquid chromatography. Results. In the study group, stool frequency increased from 0.61 ± 0.25 times per day at the beginning of the study to 0.93 ± 0.11 times per day at the end of the study (p < 0.05) against the background of metaprebiotic product application. In the comparison group, stool frequency did not change statistically significantly (0.7 ± 0.19 and 0.85 ± 0.15 times per day at the beginning and end of the study, respectively). Children in the study group showed an increase in the absolute concentrations of C2-C4 SCFAs (p < 0.05). No statistically significant changes were found in both absolute and relative concentrations of individual SCFAs (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids) in any of the groups. Conclusion. The results of this study showed the effectiveness of a specialized food product with metaprebiotic properties based on inulin and oligofructose containing calcium lactate in the correction of intestinal function in children with neurological pathology. Key words: children, constipation, inulin, oligofructose, prebiotics, specialized food products