Functional constipation is a common issue in children, often leading to significant discomfort and impacting their quality of life. Traditional treatments include a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological options, with polyethylene glycol (PEG) being a widely prescribed first-choice drug. However, PEG can cause side effects such as diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain.
A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted in Iran from April 2020 to January 2021 compared the efficacy of Ziziphus jujube syrup (ZS) with PEG in children aged 2 to 10 years suffering from functional constipation. The study involved 90 children, with 48 assigned to the PEG group and 42 to the ZS group. The primary endpoint was the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and the secondary endpoint was adverse drug events.
The results showed that the therapeutic response in the ZS group was significantly better than in the PEG group at all follow-up visits. The frequency of defecation was higher, and the number of encopresis episodes was lower in the ZS group compared to the PEG group. Additionally, VAS pain scores were significantly lower in the ZS group at weeks 4, 8, and 12 after the intervention. Adverse events such as vomiting and abdominal pain were reported in the PEG group, while no drug-related complications were observed in the ZS group.
This study suggests that Ziziphus jujube syrup could be a more effective and safer alternative to PEG for treating functional constipation in children. However, the study acknowledges limitations, including the lack of an objective index for assessing constipation improvement and the need for long-term safety evaluation of ZS. Further research is recommended to confirm these findings and explore the potential of Ziziphus jujube syrup in pediatric constipation treatment.
