AUTHOR=Avelar Rodriguez David , Popov Jelena , Ratcliffe Elyanne M. , Toro Monjaraz Erick Manuel 

TITLE=Functional Constipation and the Gut Microbiome in Children: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2020

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2020.595531

DOI=10.3389/fped.2020.595531

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Functional constipation is a common condition in childhood with significant impacts on quality of life and on utilization of health care resources.  Functional constipation is characterized by decreased bowel movements and/or hard stools, which cause significant distress for children and their caregivers.  While the term “functional” may imply the absence of organic causes with a focus on behavioral aspects, 40% of children continue to have symptoms beyond conventional management with 1 in four children continuing to experience constipation into adulthood.  The refractory and chronic nature of constipation highlight the importance of considering a range of pathophysiological mechanisms, including the potential role of the gut microbiome.  In this review, we provide an overview of preclinical and clinicals studies which focus on the potential mechanisms through which the gut microbiome might contribute to the clinical presentation of functional constipation in pediatrics.