Guar gum alleviates IBS-related constipation in randomised-controlled trial

Partially hydrolysed guar gum (PHGG) – a water-soluble fibre – appeared to be efficacious in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-associated chronic constipation. Moreover, PHGG displayed an excellent safety profile.

A double-blind, randomised-controlled trial compared the efficacy and safety of PHGG with placebo in adults with functional or IBS-associated chronic constipation [1]. The included participants (n=160) received 10 gr of PHGG daily or a matching placebo. The primary endpoint was the frequency of spontaneous bowel movements per week after 6 weeks of therapy. Dr Silvia Delgado-Aros (Nestle Health Sciences, Switzerland) presented the results.

At week 6, participants in the active arm had a mean increase in spontaneous bowel movements per week of 1.57, as compared with an increase of 1.14 in the placebo arm (P=0.034), meeting the primary endpoint. Also, the rate of responders, i.e. participants who had at least 3 spontaneous bowel movements per week and had an increase of at least 1 over the study period, was larger in the active arm than in the placebo arm (34.2% vs 17.7%; P=0.018). “To give a more practical result, the ‘number needed to treat’ in the active arm was 6,” according to Dr Delgado-Aros. There were no reported serious adverse events (AEs) or discontinuations due to AEs. The AE rates were comparable in the placebo arm and the active arm, with 37.5% and 42.5% of the participants experiencing at least 1 AE, respectively.

“The non-absorbable water-soluble fibre PHGG seems to have a place in the fibre recommendation space in patients with functional or IBS-associated chronic constipation,” concluded Dr Delgado-Aros.

1. 
   
   1. Buckley MJ, et al. RCT assessing effect of 6-week intervention with 10gr daily dose of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) on spontaneous bowel movement frequency in adults with chronic constipation. LB12, UEG Week 2024, 12–15 October, Vienna, Austria.

Medical writing support was provided by Robert van den Heuvel.
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Posted on 16 October 2024