Research synthesisModerate evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 3 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful
Across 3 studies, all reported beneficial effects of kiwi consumption on bowel movement frequency, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The most robust evidence comes from a large meta-analysis (n=192 for kiwifruit specifically) showing a small but significant increase of +0.36 bowel movements per week in adults with chronic constipation. The median study duration was 16 days, and the most commonly studied dose was two kiwifruits twice daily.
- Effective dose range: two kiwifruits twice daily
- Studied populations: adults with chronic constipation
Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). One small RCT in healthy adults showed a moderate effect, but the largest and highest-quality study (meta-analysis) reported only a small effect, suggesting the true effect size may be modest.
Generated Jun 12, 2026