Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable?
Chronic constipation (CC) is one of the most common gastroenterological diagnoses in clinical practice. Treatment includes several steps, depending on the severity of symptoms. Lifestyle modifications and increased intake of fiber and water are suggested by most health professionals. Unfortunately,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/10/3386 |
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| author | Massimo Bellini Sara Tonarelli Federico Barracca Francesco Rettura Andrea Pancetti Linda Ceccarelli Angelo Ricchiuti Francesco Costa Nicola de Bortoli Santino Marchi Alessandra Rossi |
| author_facet | Massimo Bellini Sara Tonarelli Federico Barracca Francesco Rettura Andrea Pancetti Linda Ceccarelli Angelo Ricchiuti Francesco Costa Nicola de Bortoli Santino Marchi Alessandra Rossi |
| author_sort | Massimo Bellini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic constipation (CC) is one of the most common gastroenterological diagnoses in clinical practice. Treatment includes several steps, depending on the severity of symptoms. Lifestyle modifications and increased intake of fiber and water are suggested by most health professionals. Unfortunately, the recommendations in this regard are the most varied, often conflicting with each other and not always based on solid scientific arguments. This paper aims to clarify this topic by providing practical indications for the management of these patients in every day clinical practice. The literature available on this topic is scarce, and dietary studies have important methodological biases. However, fiber, mainly by binding water and acting as bulking agents and/or as prebiotics for the intestinal microbiota, and mineral water, especially if rich in magnesium and/or bicarbonate, are useful tools. An adequate, well-designed diet should be a cornerstone of any effective treatment for chronic constipation. High-quality studies on larger samples are mandatory to give scientific validity to the role of the food in CC therapy and to enable professionals to choose the best approach for their patients, combining nutritional and pharmacological agents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:19:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac546257a9b44f25b9626de73c9115f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:19:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac546257a9b44f25b9626de73c9115f12023-11-22T19:27:46ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-09-011310338610.3390/nu13103386Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable?Massimo Bellini0Sara Tonarelli1Federico Barracca2Francesco Rettura3Andrea Pancetti4Linda Ceccarelli5Angelo Ricchiuti6Francesco Costa7Nicola de Bortoli8Santino Marchi9Alessandra Rossi10Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyGastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Sciences and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyClinical and Experimental Medicine–Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, ItalyChronic constipation (CC) is one of the most common gastroenterological diagnoses in clinical practice. Treatment includes several steps, depending on the severity of symptoms. Lifestyle modifications and increased intake of fiber and water are suggested by most health professionals. Unfortunately, the recommendations in this regard are the most varied, often conflicting with each other and not always based on solid scientific arguments. This paper aims to clarify this topic by providing practical indications for the management of these patients in every day clinical practice. The literature available on this topic is scarce, and dietary studies have important methodological biases. However, fiber, mainly by binding water and acting as bulking agents and/or as prebiotics for the intestinal microbiota, and mineral water, especially if rich in magnesium and/or bicarbonate, are useful tools. An adequate, well-designed diet should be a cornerstone of any effective treatment for chronic constipation. High-quality studies on larger samples are mandatory to give scientific validity to the role of the food in CC therapy and to enable professionals to choose the best approach for their patients, combining nutritional and pharmacological agents.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/10/3386chronic constipationfoodfiberwaterdietnutrition |
| spellingShingle | Massimo Bellini Sara Tonarelli Federico Barracca Francesco Rettura Andrea Pancetti Linda Ceccarelli Angelo Ricchiuti Francesco Costa Nicola de Bortoli Santino Marchi Alessandra Rossi Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable? Nutrients chronic constipation food fiber water diet nutrition |
| title | Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable? |
| title_full | Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable? |
| title_fullStr | Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable? |
| title_short | Chronic Constipation: Is a Nutritional Approach Reasonable? |
| title_sort | chronic constipation is a nutritional approach reasonable |
| topic | chronic constipation food fiber water diet nutrition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/10/3386 |
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