The source of your child's constipation could lie in their gut microbiome
Constipation is a common issue, affecting around 15% of newborns and up to 30% of older children at some point. Thanks to new research within gut health, there is help to be found.
An imbalance in the gut microbiome has been shown to impact children's health in ways not previously known. Thanks to new science, we can now assess whether your child’s gut flora is likely contributing to their constipation.
Learn more with pediatrician Erica Bonns
Healthy poops begin with a healthy gut
The gut microbiome is the collection of bacteria in your child’s digestive system, and it plays a big role in healthy pooping. Good bacteria help break down food, keep stools soft, and move things along. If the balance of bacteria is disrupted, it can:
- Slow digestion, leading to harder stools.
- Make it harder for the gut to process fiber.
- Cause low-grade inflammation that affects how the gut works.
- Reduce serotonin (a chemical that helps with pooping).
If you’ve tried adjusting diet and routine but your child is still constipated, their gut microbiome might be the key.
Developed by scientists from Karolinska, KTH and Uppsala University
You're not alone. Our gut health test has helped many parents with their child's constipation.
Constipation is tough for both children and parents. Let Alba help you find the root cause of your child’s constipation and gain expert advice tailored to their needs.
Paediatrician and Medical Advisor at Alba
MD, Karolinska Institutet
Dr. Erica Bonns
“We have conducted Sweden’s largest study on gut health, analyzing data from hundreds of families. Through this research, we have identified specific gut microbiome patterns that are linked to constipation in children.”
CASE STUDY
“His stomach has gotten so much better, and it’s improving all the time.”
“What really drew me in with Alba was the idea that we didn’t just have to wait it out. We actually had the chance to do something to help him. We’re now seeing fewer episodes of pain, and he’s so much happier. That’s been the biggest relief for me – just knowing he’s not in pain anymore.”
FAQ
Foods and drinks that help:
- Fruits like prunes, pears, and apples (with the skin)
- Vegetables and whole grains, which are high in fiber
- Plenty of water to keep stools soft
- Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt with live cultures to support gut health
Foods and drinks to avoid:
- Processed and junk foods that don’t have much fiber
- Too much cheese or other high-fat dairy
- Sugary drinks or too many sweet treats
Laxatives can help, but they are only temporary solutions.
Lifestyle changes e.g. eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking more water, moving more can help.
Looking into food allergies - sometimes even if a food allergy test comes back negative, a food allergy might be present. That is because there are two types of food allergies: IgE mediated (they can be detected through a blood test) and non-IgE mediated (there is no available diagnostic test to detect them). The gold standard to identify food allergies is an elimination diet, which consists in eliminating foods for a period of time and reintroducing them.
If those don’t help there could be other causes e.g. celiac diseases.
In children, it depends on the age. The baby's microbiome is constantly evolving from birth to adulthood, so monitoring its trajectory and development over time is even more informative than looking at only one snapshot.
From one microbiome test, you will discover:
- Levels of friendly bacteria, promoting healthy development
- Levels of unfriendly bacteria, as some types of bacteria are known to be unfriendly when in large share, being able to cause infections and inhibit friendly bacteria
- Gut microbiome diversity, which is associated to health and wellbeing
- Associations with constipation, from our clinical study in Sweden
- Levels of bacteria promoting immune system development and associated to lower risk of allergy and eczema
- Levels of bacteria promoting metabolic health and associated to healthy weight
- Levels of bacteria promoting brain health and cognition
- Most importantly, you will receive a set of personalized recommendations covering diet, environmental exposure, behavior and probiotic supplements (if needed) reviewed by our medical experts and discussed with you in a 1:1 consultation with a certified Nutrition & Health Coach. You will also receive 3 simple example recipes that promote optimal gut health.
References: Stewart CJ, Ajami NJ, O'Brien JL, Hutchinson DS, Smith DP, Wong MC, Ross MC, Lloyd RE, Doddapaneni H, Metcalf GA, Muzny D, Gibbs RA, Vatanen T, Huttenhower C, Xavier RJ, Rewers M, Hagopian W, Toppari J, Ziegler AG, She JX, Akolkar B, Lernmark A, Hyoty H, Vehik K, Krischer JP, Petrosino JF. Temporal development of the gut microbiome in early childhood from the TEDDY study. Nature (2018);
We are inhabited by 39 trillions of microorganisms that live on our skin, mouth, genitals, respiratory tract and gut. They are bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites and they are essential for our health - in fact, we couldn’t survive without them! The gut microbiome is the collection of all of our microbes in the gut, and their DNA. It has a fundamental role in digestion, immune system health and brain health. Imbalances in the gut microbiome have been associated with most chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, asthma, celiac disease and even cancer.
References: Ghosh, T.S., Shanahan, F. & O’Toole, P.W. The gut microbiome as a modulator of healthy ageing. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol (2022); Vijay, A., Valdes, A.M. Role of the gut microbiome in chronic diseases: a narrative review. Eur J Clin Nutr 76, 489–501 (2022).
From a stool sample, we are able to collect the DNA of all gut microbes. From their DNA we can tell exactly which bacteria are present and what they are doing in your gut. We analyze bacterial DNA only, and we do not analyze your own DNA.
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