Frontiers in Medical Science Research, 2026, 8(1); doi: 10.25236/FMSR.2026.080104.
Xiao Zhang1,2, Ming Sun2, Yong Yu1
1Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
2Department of Neurology, The 989th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Luoyang, 471000, China
Post-stroke constipation is associated with prolonged hospitalization, poor neurological outcomes, and complications. Intestinal microecological agents are believed to modulate gut microbiota. This study aims to investigate the effects of synbiotics on post-stroke constipation. Patients with acute cerebral infarction and constipation admitted to the Department of Neurology of The 989th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from January to July 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group (treated with lactulose) and an observation group (treated with chicory probiotic powder). Each group received treatment for two weeks. Assessment indicators included defecation frequency, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire, inflammatory markers, changes in 5-HT levels, and safety analysis. A total of 87 patients were enrolled, with 45 in the control group and 42 in the observation group. In the control group, post-intervention results showed increased defecation frequency (t=13.834, P=0.002), decreased PAC-SYM scores (W=484, P<0.001), improved stool consistency, and an adverse reaction incidence of 26.67%. In the observation group, post-intervention results showed increased defecation frequency (t=-1.023, P=0.008), decreased PAC-SYM scores (W=367, P=0.001), improved stool consistency, decreased systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) (W=3.691, P=0.006), decreased CRP levels (W=778, P<0.001), decreased IL-6 levels (W=-5.559, P<0.001), decreased IL-8 levels (W=199, P=0.001), increased IL-10 levels (W=729, P=0.003), increased 5-HT levels (W=206, P=0.001), and an adverse reaction incidence of 7.14%. Chicory probiotic powder can improve defecation frequency, stool consistency, and constipation symptoms in patients with post-stroke constipation, elevate 5-HT levels, effectively regulate inflammatory factors, improve the immune-inflammatory status, and has the advantage of fewer adverse reactions.
Synbiotics; Post-Stroke Constipation; Inflammatory Factors; 5-Hydroxytryptamine
Xiao Zhang, Ming Sun, Yong Yu. Exploring the Effects of Synbiotic Preparations on Constipation Efficacy, Inflammatory Factors, and 5-HT. Frontiers in Medical Science Research (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 1: 32-38. https://doi.org/10.25236/FMSR.2026.080104.
[1] Li J, Yuan M, Liu Y, et al. Incidence of constipation in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis[J]. Medicine, 2017, 96(25): e7225.
[2] Yong H Y F, Ganesh A, Camara-Lemarroy C. Gastrointestinal dysfunction in stroke[C]//Seminars in Neurology. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 2023, 43(04): 609-625.
[3] Yi J H, Chun M H, Kim B R, et al. Bowel function in acute stroke patients[J]. Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2011, 35(3): 337-343.
[4] Song J, Zhao X, Park K, et al. Probiotics and constipation[J]. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2023, 9: 1114149.
[5] Zhang S, Wang R, Li D, et al. Role of gut microbiota in functional constipation[J]. Gastroenterology Report, 2021, 9(5): 392-401.
[6] Van Der Schoot A, Helander C, Whelan K, et al. Probiotics and synbiotics in chronic constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials[J]. Clinical Nutrition, 2022, 41(12): 2759-2777.
[7] Yousefi B, Eslami M, Ghasemian A, et al. Probiotics importance and their immunomodulatory properties[J]. Journal of cellular physiology, 2019, 234(6): 8008-8018.
[8] Mazziotta C, Tognon M, Martini F, et al. Probiotics mechanism of action on immune cells and beneficial effects on human health[J]. Cells, 2023, 12(1): 184.
[9] Wang JK,Yao SK. Roles of gut microbiota and metabolites in pathogenesis of functional constipation[J]. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med,2021,2021:5560310.
[10] Cristofori F, Dargenio V N, Dargenio C, et al. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of probiotics in gut inflammation: a door to the body[J]. Frontiers in immunology, 2021, 12: 578386.
[11] Ohkusa T,Koido S,Nishikawa Y,et al. Gut microbiota and chronic constipation:A review and update[J]. Front Med(Lausanne),2019,6:19.
[12] Lai H, Li Y, He Y, et al. Effects of dietary fibers or probiotics on functional constipation symptoms and roles of gut microbiota: a double-blinded randomized placebo trial[J]. Gut Microbes, 2023, 15(1): 2197837.
[13] Huang Y P, Shi J Y, Luo X T, et al. How do probiotics alleviate constipation? A narrative review of mechanisms[J]. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 2025, 45(1): 80-96.
[14] Yousefi B, Eslami M, Ghasemian A, et al. Probiotics importance and their immunomodulatory properties[J]. Journal of cellular physiology, 2019, 234(6): 8008-8018.
[15] Aljeradat B, Kumar D, Abdulmuizz S, et al. Neuromodulation and the Gut–Brain Axis: Therapeutic Mechanisms and Implications for Gastrointestinal and Neurological Disorders[J]. Pathophysiology, 2024, 31(2): 244-268.
[16] Wang J K, Yao S K. Roles of gut microbiota and metabolites in pathogenesis of functional constipation[J]. Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine,2021,2021(1): 5560310.
[17] Zheng Y, Zhang Z, Tang P, et al. Probiotics fortify intestinal barrier function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials[J]. Frontiers in Immunology, 2023, 14: 1143548.