Yoghurt containing galacto-oligosaccharides, prunes and linseed reduces the severity of mild constipation in elderly subjects

Abstract

Objective: Constipation is a common problem in the elderly. Dietary fibre is recommended for its treatment. The aim was to examine whether yoghurt containing galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), prunes and linseed relieve constipation in elderly subjects. Design: A randomized, double-blinded, cross-over study. Setting: Free-living subjects. Subjects: A group of 43 elderly subjects with self-reported constipation (mean age 76 years, range 61-92 years, 32 females, 11 males). Interventions: The study consisted of a 2-week baseline period and 2, 3-week dietary interventions, with a 2-week wash-out period between the interventions. During the interventions, the subjects ingested, in random order, 260 g/day of either control yoghurt or test yoghurt containing GOS (12 g/day), prunes (12 g/day) and linseed (6 g/day). The use of laxatives was controlled and only allowed after 2 days without defecation. Results: Defecation frequency was 5.7 times/week during the baseline period. During the test yoghurt period, defecation frequency was higher (8.0 vs 7.1 times/week, P ¼ 0.011), defecation was easier (on the scale 0-3, 1.3 vs 1.5, P ¼ 0.010), and there was a tendency towards softer stools (on the scale 0-3, 2.1 vs 2.2, P ¼ 0.059) compared with the control yoghurt period. The subjects felt that the test yoghurt relieved constipation more effectively than the control yoghurt (P ¼ 0.005). The sum of gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ between the interventions. The use of laxatives remained constant throughout the study. Conclusions: Daily intake of yoghurt containing GOS, prunes and linseed reduced the severity of constipation in elderly subjects with mild constipation.

Galacto-oligosaccharides and bowel function

“…The results of the studies investigating the laxative effect of GOS in elderly people indicate that GOS reduce the most common symptoms of constipation in the elderly. The use of GOS could not, however, totally replace other laxatives (14,15).…”

“…In most of the studies, amounts of 12 g of GOS or less daily were well tolerated (14,15), but 15 g of GOS per day increased flatulence (17). However, individuals vary considerably in their response to GOS (15), as with their response to any other easily fermented fibre (27).…”

“…Recently, Sairanen et al (15) examined the effect of yoghurt containing GOS (12 g per day), prunes (12 g per day) and linseed (6 g per day) on bowel function in 43 constipated, free-living elderly subjects (mean age 76 years). In this double-blind crossover study, the subjects consumed, in random order, 260 g per day of either test yoghurt or control yoghurt for 3 weeks.…”

“…The laxative effect of GOS varies from patient to patient (15,16), as does the effect of any other fibre (24). Deguchi et al (16) examined the laxative effect of GOS in 128 healthy adults with constipation tendency in two single-blind, placebo-controlled trials.…”

Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to dried plums of ‘prune’ cultivars (Prunus domestica L.) and maintenance of normal bowel function (ID 1164, further assessment) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006

“…One human intervention study with a cross-over design (Sairanen et al, 2007) assessed the effect of consuming daily 260 g of a test yoghurt containing 12 g galacto-oligosaccharides, 12 g prunes and 6 g linseed, or 260 g of a control yoghurt without the afore-mentioned combined constituents, on defecation frequency in elderly subjects with self-reported constipation. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from a study on a fixed combination of constituents for the scientific substantiation of a claim on prunes alone.…”