Review of 33 studies links two green kiwifruit daily for four weeks to more regular stools in constipation

A review published in the journal Food, Nutrition and Health examined the link between kiwifruit consumption and bowel function, pravda.ru reports. The authors analysed 33 earlier studies and reports. According to the review, two fresh green kiwifruit a day for four weeks were associated with more regular stools and less straining in people with chronic constipation and in those with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) pravda.rupravda.rupravda.ruOpen source ↗.

The work is a meta-analysis of earlier data, not a new clinical trial.

What the data showed

In one international clinical trial included in the review, the number of bowel movements in participants with constipation rose by about 1.5 per week. In the IBS-C group the increase was 1.7 per week. Both groups also reported better overall digestive comfort.

The effect is probably due to the combined action of several components of the fruit. Kiwifruit fibre can increase stool bulk and retain water in it, while natural moisture and sorbitol help stool move through the intestine. The researchers stress that the benefit comes from the whole fruit rather than from individual isolated compounds pravda.rupravda.rupravda.ruOpen source ↗.

In one American trial, green kiwifruit, psyllium fibre and prunes were equally effective in improving chronic constipation. Kiwifruit was more often associated with fewer side effects and good tolerability.

Limitations of the evidence

The strongest data exist for fresh green kiwifruit. The effects of gold kiwifruit, powders and extracts are poorly studied, so the same efficacy cannot be assumed for them. The original studies differed in participant characteristics, in the type and amount of kiwifruit consumed, and in the outcomes measured. Most were short, so more data are needed to assess long-term effects.

Jason Heiselman, a certified nutritionist from New York who was not involved in the review, notes that besides fibre, kiwifruit contains the natural enzyme actinidin, which may aid digestion.

Before changing the diet to relieve constipation, especially in the presence of chronic conditions, consultation with a physician is needed. What works for a group of participants in studies does not guarantee the same result for each individual.