Increasing dietary fiber intake in terms of kiwifruit improves constipation in Chinese patients

Table 1 Demographic data and constipation symptoms of the constipated patients and healthy subjects

	Treatmentgroup(n = 33)	Control group(healthy subjects)(n = 22)	P value
Sex (female)	72.70%	80%	0.74
Female to male ratio	2.67:1	04:01
Ethnicity (Chinese)	100%	100%
Age (yr ± SD)	49.9 ± 12	50.8 ± 14	0.82
Duration of constipation (yr ± SD)	20.3 ± 15	-
Complete spontaneous bowel motion per week	1.9 ± 1	-
(mean ± SD)
Passage of hard stool	72.70%	-
Incomplete evacuation	84.80%	-
Straining	90.90%	-

Table 2 Secondary efficacy variables before and after the kiwi fruit treatment in the constipated patients and healthy subjects (mean ± SD)

	Constipated patients			Healthy subjects
	Before treatment	After treatment	P value	Before treatment	After treatment	P value
Bristol stool scale	3.1 ± 1.9	3.3 ± 1.2	0.58	4.0 ± 0.9	4.2 ± 0.8	0.94
Straining	1.9 ± 0.5	1.8 ± 0.5	0.88	0.3 ± 0.5	0.4 ± 0.5	0.97
Bothersomeness of constipation	2.6 ± 0.9	2.0 ± 1.1	0.02	0.2 ± 0.5	0.2 ± 0.4	1.0
Satisfaction of bowel habit	2.7 ± 0.9	1.6 ± 1	0.001	0.3 ± 0.5	0.2 ± 0.5	0.97
Number of days taking laxatives (rescue therapy)/wk	2.2 ± 2.5	0.8 ± 1.5	0.003	0	0	-
Percentage of patients taking laxatives	60.60%	30.30%	0.013	0	0	-

Table 3 Anorectal physiology parameters before and after the kiwi fruit treatment in the constipated patients and healthy subjects

	Constipated patients			Healthy subjects
	Before treatment	After treatment	P value	Before treatment	After treatment	P value
Transit time in right segment (h)	11.6 ± 12	12.6 ± 12	0.77	4.2 ± 7	4.1 ± 6	0.55
Transit time in left segment (h)	23.3 ± 16	19.6 ± 13	0.23	6.0 ± 9	6.7 ± 8	0.97
Transit time in sigmoid-rectal segment (h)	19.5 ± 16	7.6 ± 7	< 0.0001	7.2 ± 11	3.4 ± 5	0.045
Total colonic transit time (h)	54.5 ± 29	39.6 ± 22	0.003	16.8 ± 23	14.1 ± 14	0.23
Rectal pressure (mmHg)	26.3 ± 18	30.4 ± 19	0.3	23.6 ± 19	27.2 ± 18	0.54
Upper anal canal pressure (mmHg)	51.9 ± 18	48.9 ± 29	0.67	49.1 ± 20	58.4 ± 30	0.33
Lower anal canal pressure (mmHg)	63.9 ± 22	67.9 ± 25	0.44	58.4 ± 23	74.4 ± 27	0.025
Simulated Defecation-Push Maneuver (rectum) (mmHg)	65.8 ± 45	90.8 ± 55	0.019	72.2 ± 50	88.2 ± 50	0.31
Simulated Defecation-Push Maneuver (upper anal canal) (mmHg)	98.6 ± 43	108.6 ± 43	0.5	96.1 ± 46	118.1 ± 66	0.29
Simulated Defecation-Push maneuver (lower anal canal) (mmHg)	101.3 ± 47	101.1 ± 56	1.0	77.8 ± 53	90.3 ± 64	0.43
Rectoanal inhibitory reflex (R.A.I.R.) (mL)	17.2 ± 7	11.3 ± 4	0.003	12.1 ± 4	12.2 ± 4	1.0
First sensation (mL)	39.0 ± 11	33.1 ± 9	0.03	30.5 ± 9	29.4 ± 6	0.61
Constant sensation/urge (mL)	68.7 ± 20	60.3 ± 20	0.049	52.7 ± 13	50.0 ± 6	0.46
Maximum tolerable volume (mL)	99.6 ± 35	85.1 ± 21	0.031	83.2 ± 14	78.9 ± 14	0.07