Prune Juice Containing Sorbitol, Pectin, and Polyphenol Ameliorates Subjective Complaints and Hard Feces While Normalizing Stool in Chronic Constipation: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

• Published in: The American journal of gastroenterology Vol. 117; no. 10; pp. 1714 - 1717
• Main Authors: Koyama, Taishi, Nagata, Naoyoshi, Nishiura, Kengo, Miura, Naoki, Kawai, Takashi, Yamamoto, Hirotaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wolters Kluwer 01.10.2022; Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Brief Communication; Clinical trials; Constipation; Constipation - drug therapy; Defecation; Diarrhea; Diarrhea - drug therapy; Dietary Fiber; Double-Blind Method; Feces; Gastroenterology; Humans; Laboratories; Natural & organic foods; Pectins; Polyphenols; Quality of life; Review boards; Sorbitol
• ISSN: 0002-9270; 1572-0241; 1572-0241
• DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001931

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of prune juice on chronic constipation. We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Japanese subjects with chronic constipation. Prune intake significantly decreased hard and lumpy stools while increasing normal stool and not increasing loose and watery stools. Prune intake also ameliorated subjective complaints of constipation and hard stools, without alteration of flatulence, diarrhea, loose stools, or urgent need for defecation. There were no adverse events or laboratory abnormalities of liver or renal function after prune intake. Prune juice exerted an effective and safe natural food therapy for chronic constipation.