Improved Quality of Life in Children With Intestinal Failure

Summary

Children with intestinal failure have a lack of tolerance for food in the intestine. The children are dependent on intravenous nutrition over a long period of time period to ensure growth and development. The condition is characterized by bacterial overgrowth in the intestine, with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and flatulence as physical symptoms. Mental health is affected in the form of lower quality of life, lack of school participation and less social contact with peers. The investigators own (unpublished) data show that children with intestinal failure have a lower quality of life than healthy people. Standard treatment is antibiotics, but the effect of these is short-lived, and many must have repeated courses. Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates (fiber) in foods that positively affect the bacterial flora and promote intestinal health. In this project the investigators want to see if supply of prebiotics can change the bacterial balance, reduce symptoms of bacterial overgrowth and increase quality of life. The study is unique, as Prebiotics have not previously been used in the treatment of intestinal failure. If successful, it can pave the way for a new and better treatment method that can potentially be transferred to other conditions with imbalance in the intestinal flora. The study is a randomized intervention study and is consist of two phases. In phase 1, the effect of 4 weeks of open intervention with prebiotics is studied to establish so-called "proof of concept". Data from phase 1 are used to look at connections between the composition of intestinal flora, nutritional status and bowel function. The intervention involves the use of a prebiotic product (Stimulance, Nutricia), which is added to childs regular food. In phase 2, patients are randomized into two groups. One group will continue with the product for 6 months, while the other group does not receive prebiotics.

Conditions

• Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction
• Short Bowel Syndrome
• Malabsorption Syndrome Autoimmune Enteropathy
• Bacterial Overgrowth

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Stimulance

Intervention with Prebiotic supplement

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Oslo

  collaborator OTHER

• Oslo University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rut Anne Thomassen · Oslo University Hospital

• Anne Charlotte Brun, MD PhD · Oslo University Hospital

• Christine Henriksen, PhD · University of Oslo

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

1 Year

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-02

Primary Completion

2023-12-02

Completion

2023-12-15

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations