Table 9.
Association between sponsor and clinical outcomes: stool characteristics
| Stool characteristics | Source of funding |
Positive* |
Negative* |
Neutral* |
Chi-square p value | Fisher’s exact p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) $$ | n (%) $$ | n (%) $$ | ||||
| Stool Frequency N = 37 |
Industry |
7 (18.9) |
|
22 (59.5) |
0.501 |
0.540 |
| None/Not clear |
3 (8.1) |
|
4 (10.8) |
|
|
|
| Non industry |
|
|
1 (2.7) |
|
|
|
| Stool Consistency n =37 |
Industry |
14 (37.8) |
|
15 (40.5) |
0.562 |
1.00 |
| None/Not clear |
4 (10.8) |
|
3 (8.1) |
|
|
|
| Non industry |
|
|
1 (2.7) |
|
|
|
| Stool pH N =13 |
Industry |
7 (53.8) |
|
2 (15.4) |
0.305 |
1.00 |
| None/Not clear |
4 (30.8) |
|
|
|
|
|
| Non industry |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stool Short Chain Fatty Acids N = 9 |
Industry |
2 (22.2) |
|
4 (44.4) |
0.687 |
1.00 |
| None / Not clear |
1 (11.1) |
|
1 (11.1) |
|
|
|
| Non industry |
|
|
1 (11.1) |
|
|
|
| Flatulence / Gas N = 16 |
Industry |
|
|
15 (93.8) |
Not valid |
|
| None/Not clear |
|
|
1 (6.3) |
|
|
|
| Non industry |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Diarrhoea, Diarrhoea episodes N = 19 |
Industry |
3 (15.8) |
1 (5.3) |
10 (52.6) |
0.771 |
1.00 |
| None/Not clear |
|
|
2 (10.5) |
|
|
|
| Non industry |
|
|
3 (15.8) |
|
|
|
| Constipation N = 3 |
Industry |
1 (33.3) |
|
1 (33.3) |
0.386 |
1.00 |
| None/Not clear |
|
|
1 (33.3) |
|
|
|
| Non industry | 0 |
$$ Overall percentage.
*Positive: synbiotic, probiotic or prebiotic supplementation had a statistically significant effect, p < 0.05. There were significant differences between study groups (in favour of experimental group).
*Neutral: synbiotic, probiotic or prebiotic supplementation did not have a statistically significant effect, p > 0.05, No significant differences between study groups.
*Negative: synbiotic, probiotic or prebiotic supplementation had a statistically significant increase in an adverse event / negative outcome, p < 0.05.