Table 1.

Summary of randomized controlled trials of prebiotics for the management of chronic constipation

References	Subjects	Intervention	Comparator	Author’s conclusion
Linetzky Waitzberg et al. (2012)	Patients n = 60 (control n = 32, Intervention n = 28)	Inulin	Placebo	Decrease the amount of pathological bacteria of the Clostridium genera
Bouhnik et al. (2004)	Patients n = 65 (control n = 32, Intervention n = 33)	Lactulose	Polyethylene glycol	Beneficial effects, an increase in faecal bifidobacteria counts
Li et al. (2013)	Mice n = 40	Deshipu stachyose granules (DSG)	Placebo	Facilitating intestinal peristalsis and fecal excretion, increasing beneficial intestinal bacteria and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria
Li et al. (2011)	Rats n = 90	Prebiotics (a combination of GOS, XOS, OF and inulin)	Placebo	Beneficial effects on constipation