This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a daily Fiber Nutritional Supplement (Materna® Opti fiber), containing partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) and vitamins C, D, zinc, and selenium, combined with nutritional counselling, for the management of constipation during pregnancy. Constipation is a common gastrointestinal complaint in pregnancy and may negatively affect quality of life and well being.
The study is designed as an open label, single arm intervention conducted in pregnant women between 13 and 27 weeks of gestation who meet the Cullen 2007 criteria for functional constipation. A total of 31 participants are planned for enrolment. Eligible participants will receive one sachet per day of the Fiber Nutritional Supplement (Materna® Opti fiber), providing approximately 5.8 g of PHGG, for a duration of 4 weeks. In addition to the investigational product, all participants will receive standardized constipation counselling at baseline, including education on constipation, lifestyle measures.
Pregnant women aged 21 years-old or above at recruitment
Gestational age of 13-27 weeks at recruitment
Singleton pregnancy at recruitment
Low frequency of stool (<3/week)
Treated for constipation less than one week before the start of the study
Use of prebiotics or probiotics containing supplements two weeks prior to the study start
Major complications during pregnancy e.g., pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes requiring insulin intervention, severe intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), fetal anomalies that in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with the pregnancy and participation in the clinical trial
Pre-existing medical conditions e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases, autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome and other major chronic illness that in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with the pregnancy and participation in the clinical trial