Prunes knock out Psyllium

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Prunes beat psyllium for constipation relief: RCT data

By ls, 07-Mar-2011

Dr Rao and his co-workers recruited 40 people with constipation to participate

in their randomized control crossover trial. The average age of the

participants was 38. Volunteers were randomly assigned to consume 50 grams per

day of prunes, or 11 grams per day of psyllium (Metamucil, Proctor and Gamble

Pharmaceuticals) for three weeks. One week of ‘washout’ separated the

interventions.

Results showed that daily prune consumption significantly improved spontaneous

bowel movements per week, compared with psyllium. The prune intervention

increased spontaneous bowel movements per week from an average of 1.8 at the

start of the study to 3.5, while psyllium was associated with an increase from

an initial average of 1.6 to 2.8.

In addition, stool consistency measures also improved more in the prune group,

compared with psyllium.

In terms of tolerability and palatability, there were no reported differences

between prunes and psyllium, said the researchers.

“These findings confirm the general notion that dried plums that are widely

consumed can be useful for the treatment of constipation,†wrote the authors.

I like more BM's per week than 1.8 or 3.5 myself.

Any thoughts on potassium deficiency and constipation?

R Vajda, R.D.