Consumption of 2 Green Kiwifruits Daily Improves Constipation and Abdominal Comfort-Results of an International Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

2022-12-20
The American journal of gastroenterology 118(6)
- Richard Gearry
- Shin Fukudo
- Giovanni Barbara
- Barbara Kuhn-Sherlock
- Juliet Ansell
- Paul Blatchford
- Sarah Eady
- Alison Wallace
- Christine Butts
- Cesare Cremon
- Maria Raffaella Barbaro
- Isabella Pagano
- Yohei Okawa
- Tomohiko Muratubaki
- Tomoko Okamoto
- Mikiko Fuda
- Yuka Endo
- Michiko Kano
- Motoyori Kanazawa
- Naoki Nakaya
- Kumi Nakaya
- Lynley Drummond

PubMed: 36537785
DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002124

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size: n = 63
Population: healthy controls (n = 63), patients with functional constipation (FC, n = 60), and patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C, n = 61)
Methods: randomly assigned to consume 2 green kiwifruits or psyllium (7.5 g) per day for 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout, and then the other treatment for 4 weeks
Duration: 4 weeks

Introduction

Consumption of green kiwifruit is known to relieve constipation. Previous studies have also reported improvements in gastrointestinal (GI) comfort. We investigated the effect of consuming green kiwifruit on GI function and comfort.

Methods

Participants included healthy controls (n = 63), patients with functional constipation (FC, n = 60), and patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C, n = 61) randomly assigned to consume 2 green kiwifruits or psyllium (7.5 g) per day for 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout, and then the other treatment for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM) per week. Secondary outcomes included GI comfort which was measured using the GI symptom rating scale, a validated instrument. Data (intent-to-treat) were analyzed as difference from baseline using repeated measures analysis of variance suitable for AB/BA crossover design.

Results

Consumption of green kiwifruit was associated with a clinically relevant increase of ≥ 1.5 CSBM per week (FC; 1.53, P < 0.0001, IBS-C; 1.73, P = 0.0003) and significantly improved measures of GI comfort (GI symptom rating scale total score) in constipated participants (FC, P < 0.0001; IBS-C, P < 0.0001). No significant adverse events were observed.

Discussion

This study provides original evidence that the consumption of a fresh whole fruit has demonstrated clinically relevant increases in CSBM and improved measures of GI comfort in constipated populations. Green kiwifruits are a suitable dietary treatment for relief of constipation and associated GI comfort.

Research Insights

Kiwi→Improved Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Participants ... randomly assigned to consume 2 green kiwifruits or psyllium (7.5 g) per day for 4 weeks
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
7.5 g per day
Kiwi→Increased Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements
Participants ... randomly assigned to consume 2 green kiwifruits or psyllium (7.5 g) per day for 4 weeks
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
7.5 g per day
psyllium→Improved Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Participants ... randomly assigned to consume 2 green kiwifruits or psyllium (7.5 g) per day for 4 weeks
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
7.5 g per day
psyllium→Increased Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements
Participants ... randomly assigned to consume 2 green kiwifruits or psyllium (7.5 g) per day for 4 weeks
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
7.5 g per day

Adverse Events Reported

Kiwi→Overall tolerability
No significant adverse events were observed.
Finding
Reported
psyllium→Overall tolerability
No significant adverse events were observed.
Finding
Reported