Interestingly, some previous studies have shown sorbitol to cause gas and bloating, but subjects in this study did not report these side effects. Fibre is a bulking agent known to help with digestion, and sorbitol, which is often used to sweeten sugar-free foods, is known to act as an osmotic laxative, even without any fibre. The laxative mechanism of prunes is not yet fully known but researchers suspect it is likely related to the combination of sorbitol, water-soluble fibre, and polyphenols that they contain. The study participants found the remedies equally palatable and experienced no symptoms such as postprandial fullness or bloating with either treatment. The researchers also note that the prune therapy resulted in softer stools, although straining scores were about the same with both treatments. The researchers found that, while both treatments provided constipation relief, the average number of CSBMs per week was significantly higher during treatment with prunes than with psyllium, with an average of 3.5 CSBMs with prunes and 2.8 CSBMs with psyllium. The researchers’ primary measure was the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) per week they also analysed the number of incomplete and/or non-spontaneous bowel movements per week, global constipation symptoms scores, stool consistency, straining scores, satiety, postprandial fullness, abdominal bloating or distension, and palatability of the treatment (i.e., the taste!). They then returned to their regular constipation remedies for six weeks, completing the daily symptom diary for only the final week of that period, before meeting with the researchers for a final follow-up visit. Throughout the first eight weeks of the study, participants completed a daily stool symptom diary. Each treatment equalled 6g of fibre a day.Īfter three weeks, there was another one-week washout period before the groups switched and used the opposite treatment for three weeks. The researchers then randomly assigned half of the participants to start with a treatment of 11g of psyllium with 8oz of water, twice a day, and the other half to start with 50g of prunes (approximately 12 prunes) with meals, twice a day. For the first week, the study participants used no laxatives or other constipation treatments. Psyllium Studyįor fourteen weeks, the researchers followed forty subjects, aged 18-75, whose symptoms met the Rome III criteria for chronic constipation, but not for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 1 Since only one third of constipation sufferers seek medical assistance, there is a substantial market for over-the-counter treatments, including fibre supplements, stool softeners, laxatives, and enemas. In a study, published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 1 researchers compared the effectiveness of a popular natural supplement, psyllium (Metamucil®), to a natural food remedy that humans have been consuming for thousands of years, dried plums (prunes). They concluded that prunes are superior in providing safe, effective relief of mild to moderate chronic constipation.Ĭhronic constipation is a frustrating condition, affecting up to 20% of the world’s population.
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