The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of prune juice on chronic constipation.
METHODS:We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Japanese subjects with chronic constipation.
RESULTS: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.
DISCUSSION:Prune juice exerted an effective and safe natural food therapy for chronic constipation.
We report unique conductive leaf-inspired (in particular, stomatainspired) supramolecular gas sensors in which acetylated cyclodextrin derivatives rule the electric output. The gas sensors consist of polymers bearing acetylated cyclodextrin, adamantane, and carbon black. Host−guest complexes between acetylated cyclodextrin and adamantane corresponding to the closed stomata realize a flexible polymeric matrix. Effective recombination of the cross-links contributes to the robustness. As gas sensors, the supramolecular materials detect ammonia as well as various other gases at 1 ppm in 10 min. The free acetylated cyclodextrin corresponding to open stomata recognized the guest gases to alter the electric resistivity. Interestingly, the conductive device failed to detect ammonia gases at all without acetylated cyclodextrin. The molecular recognition was studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The gas molecules existed stably in the cavity of free acetylated cyclodextrin. These findings show the potential for developing wearable gas sensors.
Aim: Little data is available regarding the effectiveness of natural foods in treating chronic constipation. We aimed to identify whether prune ameliorates chronic constipation and can be used safely for a relatively long time.
Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 84 subjects with chronic constipation, presenting more than 6 months before and persisting for more than 3 months, were randomized to prune (n=42) or placebo (n=42) intake for 8 weeks. We assessed daily Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) scores and stool frequencies and administered the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) questionnaire, as primary outcomes for constipation improvement.
Results: The prune group showed significantly decreased rates of hard stool (BSFS1 or 2) and increased rates of normal stool (BSFS 3 or 4) after 1 week, which were more evident after 7 weeks between the two groups. Prune significantly increased stool frequency immediately after 1 week. Furthermore, GSRS of hard stools, flatulence, and incomplete evacuation significantly improved after 4-8 weeks of prune intake, of which constipation and hard stools were significantly reduced compared to the placebo group. In contrast, prune intake did not cause diarrhea, loose stools, or urgent need for defecation during 8 weeks evaluated by GSRS score. We found no abnormal laboratory tests of liver function, renal function, inflammation, or urinalysis after prune intake.
Conclusions: Daily prune intake ameliorates chronic constipation, improving quality of life, and causes few diarrhea-related symptoms or side effects. Our results emphasize a new, useful, and easy strategy for chronic constipation. (UMIN ID:000041384)
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