Oral guar gum treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis and pruritus in pregnant women: effects on serum cholestanol and other non-cholesterol sterols

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation 1998-05, Vol.28 (5), p.359-363
• Main Authors: GYLLING, H, RIIKONEN, S, NIKKILÄ, K, SAVONIUS, H, MIETTINEN, T. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cholestanol - blood; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic - blood; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic - drug therapy; Cholesterol - analogs & derivatives; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol precursors; Desmosterol - blood; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Galactans - administration & dosage; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; Mannans - administration & dosage; Medical sciences; Phytosterols; Plant Gums; plant sterols; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - blood; Pregnancy Complications - drug therapy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Pruritus - blood; Pruritus - drug therapy; Random Allocation; Sitosterols - blood
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1998.00282.x

Background Our aim was to investigate whether intestinal binding of bile acids by guar gum, a dietary fibre, relieves cholestasis and pruritus in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Methods Forty‐eight pregnant women with cholestasis and pruritus were randomized double‐blind to guar gum and placebo until the time of delivery, and 20 healthy pregnant women were used as control subjects. The pruritus score and serum bile acids, lipids and non‐cholesterol sterols were measured at baseline, at least 2 weeks after treatment, just before delivery and up to 4 weeks after delivery. Results The increase in serum bile acids and worsening of pruritus were prevented by guar gum in relation to placebo (P