Consumption of 2 Green Kiwifruits Daily Improves Constipation and Abdominal Comfort-Results of an International Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Gearry R
Published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Methodology
International multicentre randomised AB/BA crossover trial across New Zealand, Italy and Japan in 184 participants; 4 weeks of 2 green kiwifruit per day or 7.5 g psyllium per day, 4-week washout, then the alternate treatment; primary outcome complete spontaneous bowel movements per week, secondary outcome the GI Symptom Rating Scale, analysed intent-to-treat with repeated measures ANOVA.
Key Findings
This international crossover trial enrolled 184 people (63 healthy controls, 60 with functional constipation, 61 with constipation-predominant IBS) who ate 2 green kiwifruit or 7.5 g psyllium daily for 4 weeks, washed out for 4 weeks, then switched. Kiwifruit produced a clinically relevant increase of at least 1.5 complete spontaneous bowel movements per week (functional constipation +1.53, p < 0.0001; IBS-C +1.73, p = 0.0003). Gastrointestinal comfort measured on the GI Symptom Rating Scale also improved significantly in both constipated groups (both p < 0.0001). No significant adverse events occurred.
Conclusions
Green kiwifruits are a suitable dietary treatment for relief of constipation and associated GI comfort.
Limitations
Eating whole fruit cannot be blinded, so expectation effects are possible, and the comparator was psyllium rather than placebo; the study was funded by the kiwifruit marketing company Zespri and two authors are its employees.
Outcomes Measured
Consumption of 2 Green Kiwifruits Daily Improves Constipation and Abdominal Comfort
Green kiwifruits are a suitable dietary treatment for relief of constipation and associated GI comfort.
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).
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Zespri International Ltd (principal sponsor) with a New Zealand government grant for the NZ centre; two authors are Zespri employees.
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