Karina Najjar

Dr. Karina Najjar


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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27 June 2025 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
TNTomsa Nicoleta
Tomsa Nicoleta
Lorena Elena MelitLorena Elena Melit
Lorena Elena Melit
TPTeodora Popescu
Teodora Popescu
KNKarina Najjar
Karina Najjar
AVAnca Meda Vasiesiu
Anca Meda Vasiesiu
RBReka Borka Balas
Reka Borka Balas
Constipation affects around 30% of children and in 95% of cases is functional (FC), a consequence of alterations in digestive tract peristalsis, modulated by the immune and nervous systems, bile acid metabolism, and the gut microbiota. The aim of this review was to assess the role of gut microbiota and the use of probiotics in children with constipation. The current treatment involves education, toilet training, and oral laxatives, effective in only 50% of patients. In chronic FC, the composition of the microbiota is altered, with increased abundance of Bacteroidetes, Enterobacteriaceae, and Firmicutes and decreases in Prevotella, Bifidobacteria, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Clostridium leptum. Probiotics replenish lacking beneficial resident bacteria, downregulate mucosal inflammation, or produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Probiotics like Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium longum increase the defecation frequency and decrease the episodes of both fecal incontinence and abdominal pain. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 improves the gut microbiota by upregulating SCFA genes and downregulating those related to methane metabolism. Lactobacilli produce organic acids that stimulate bowel peristalsis and augment fecal bolus moisture. The heterogeneity of the current studies involving pediatric subjects thus far hinders the use of probiotics as a standard in the management of children with constipation.