Observations on the curative effect of lactulose for postpartum constipation based on a large sample study

Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Oct 15;8(10):19167-71. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lactulose in the intervention treatment of postpartum women with constipation.

Methods: The study adopted the multicenter clinical survey with a big sample which enrolled 4781 valid questionnaires from postpartum women in 18 different districts. All of them were treated with lactulose oral solution. Their constipation-related symptoms and routine examination on blood, urine and stool were monitored before and after lactulose intervention. The treatment duration lasted 2 weeks and all the patients were followed for 4 weeks.

Result: Their stool consistency, daily defecation frequencies, defecating time and dyschezia were improved significantly after lactulose intervention, and the good therapeutic effect was remained at the off-medication session. Furthermore, abnormal rate of each index in blood, urine and stool examination showed a decreased trend.

Conclusion: Lactulose offered good therapeutic benefit and could be developed as an effective intervention to postpartum women with constipation.

Keywords: Postpartum; constipation; lactulose.