Síntomas de estreñimiento funcional y métodos de alimentación complementaria: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Functional constipation symptoms and complementary feeding methods: A randomized clinical trial

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar el impacto de diferentes métodos de alimentación complementaria en la prevalencia de síntomas de estreñimiento funcional en lactantes a los 12 meses de edad. Materiales y métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado realizado en díadas madre-lactante sometidas a intervención a los 5,5 meses del nacimiento, con asignación aleatoria a uno de los tres métodos de introducción de sólidos: destete dirigido por la madre, o parent-led weaning (PLW), método Baby-Led Introduction to Solids (BLISS) dirigido por el lactante, y mixto. Los síntomas de estreñimiento se evaluaron a los 12 meses mediante un cuestionario en línea basado en los criterios diagnósticos de Roma IV y adaptado a la muestra. Los análisis se realizaron mediante la prueba χ2 y los datos se expresaron como frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes. El proyecto fue aprobado por el comité de ética del Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre con el número 2019-0230. Resultados: Se analizaron los datos de 135 lactantes, 45 asignados al método PLW, 48 al BLISS y 42 al método mixto. La prevalencia de síntomas de estreñimiento fue del 49,6% en la muestra global (n=67), siendo del 60% (n=27) en el método PLW, 47,9% (n=23) en el BLISS y 40,5% (n=17) en el mixto. No hubo asociación entre los síntomas de estreñimiento funcional y el método de introducción de la alimentación complementaria (p=0,183). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de estreñimiento y sus síntomas fue alta en la población estudiada. La prevalencia de los síntomas de estreñimiento funcional no se asoció con el método de alimentación complementaria. (AU)

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of different complementary feeding methods on the prevalence of functional constipation symptoms in infants at 12 months of age. Material and methods: Randomized clinical trial in mother–infant dyads that underwent the intervention at 5.5 months post birth, randomly allocated to one of three complementary food introduction methods: PLW (parent-led weaning), baby-led introduction to solids (BLISS) and a mixed approach. The symptoms of constipation were assessed at 12 months with an online questionnaire based on the Rome IV diagnostic criteria and adapted to our sample. The data were summarised as absolute frequencies and percentages and compared by means of the χ2 test. The project was approved by the ethics committee of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre under number 2019-0230. Results: We analysed data corresponding to 135 infants, 45 allocated to PLW, 48 to BLISS and 42 to the mixed approach. The prevalence of constipation symptoms was 49.6% in the overall sample (n=67), 60% (n=27) in the PLW group, 47.9% (n=23) in the BLISS group and 40.5% (n=17) in the mixed approach group. We found no association between functional constipation symptoms and the method used to introduce complementary foods (P=.183). Conclusions: The prevalence of functional constipation symptoms was high in the study population. The presence of constipation symptoms was not associated with the complementary feeding approach. (AU)

Functional constipation symptoms and complementary feeding methods: A randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of different complementary feeding methods on the prevalence of functional constipation symptoms in infants at 12 months of age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized clinical trial in mother-infant dyads that underwent the intervention at 5.5 months post birth, randomly allocated to one of three complementary food introduction methods: PLW (parent-led weaning), Baby-led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) and a mixed approach. The symptoms of constipation were assessed at 12 months with an online questionnaire based on the Rome IV diagnostic criteria and adapted to our sample. The data were summarised as absolute frequencies and percentages and compared by means of the χ2 test. The project was approved by the ethics committee of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre under number 2019-0230. RESULTS: We analysed data corresponding to 135 infants, 45 allocated to PLW, 48 to BLISS and 42 to the mixed approach. The prevalence of constipation symptoms was 49.6% in the overall sample (n = 67), 60% (n = 27) in the PLW group, 47.9% (n = 23) in the BLISS group and 40.5% (n = 17) in the mixed approach group. We found no association between functional constipation symptoms and the method used to introduce complementary foods (P = .183). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of functional constipation symptoms was high in the study population. The presence of constipation symptoms was not associated with the complementary feeding approach.