Soluble and Osmotic Fibre (SOLOS) Diet for Constipation

Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

Status

Not yet enrolling

Conditions

Dietary Fiber

Constipation, Signs and Symptoms, Digestive

Dietary and Nutritional Therapies

Diet Therapy

Dietary Fibers

Diet, Food and Nutrition

Constipation - Functional

Constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C)

Constipation Chronic Idiopathic

Diet Modification

Constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Constipation

Constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)

Constipation Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatments

Other: Diet

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT07388589

RECAS-0723-IRB

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research aims to study the dual effectiveness of incorporating soluble fibre and osmotic carbohydrates (SOLOS), with or without restricting fructans and GOS, and present novel findings in managing GI symptoms in patients with functional bowel disorders with constipation. These findings may also support researchers and clinicians in shaping new dietary approaches in the management of general constipation symptoms.

Full description

Aims: This retrospective clinical audit study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary advice promoting increased intake of soluble fibre and poorly absorbed (osmotic) carbohydrates, with or without restriction of fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), on adult patients (18-70 years old) with functional bowel disorders with constipation from the UK by comparing to baseline scores for severity and frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms and stool output.

Hypothesis: The dietary advice promoting increased intake of soluble fibre and osmotic sugars will produce a significant change from baseline in gastrointestinal symptoms and stool output in adult patients (18-70 years old) with functional bowel disorders with constipation from the UK.

Methodology: The study population will include all patients who have consulted with the Principal Investigator, a specialist gastroenterology dietitian between January 2021 and December 2025. All patients who have met the inclusion criteria will then form the research sample. Eligible subjects' data and study variables will be extracted from patient letters and clinical management records without direct patient contact. These study variables include the frequency and severity of the patients' symptoms at their initial appointment and follow-up appointment if available. Anthropometric data such as height and weight will also be obtained. The compiled data will then be analysed by conducting statistical tests, specifically the paired t-test, which will produce descriptive statistics that will interpret the effectiveness of the SOLOS diet on patients with functional bowel disorders with constipation.

Applications: To date, there has not been any study studying the dual effects of soluble fibre and osmotic carbohydrates consumption on alleviating constipation-related symptoms in patients with functional bowel disorders with constipation. Therefore, this research aims to present novel findings that can advance existing dietary management of functional bowel disorders with constipation. These results are expected to deepen understanding and research in food manufacturing and clinical nutrition.

Enrollment

180 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Presented with symptoms of FC, IBS-C, or SIBO-C
Were aged 18 to 70 years old. (Research focus is on adult patients, excluding older adults and children)
Date of baseline (first) and follow-up appointments ranged from January 2021 to December 2025
Did not attend follow-up appointments (Data would be treated as "intention to treat" and data points were carried forward for conservative analysis).

Exclusion criteria

Had no history of constipation-related symptoms (Does not relate to research question's population or outcome)
Started treatment before January 2021
Were not due for follow-up before the end of December 2025
Symptom and stool data inadequately recorded