This research was supported by High Value-added Food Technology Development Program (Project number: 313024–03–3-HD020), Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, Republic of Korea.
The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of xylobiose-sugar mixture intake on defecation frequency and constipation symptoms in 31 young women with constipation. Methods: Thirty-one subjects were assigned to two groups, and subjects in each group were administered 10 g of a 7% xylobiose-sugar mixture (Experiment 1: XBS, n = 15) or 10 g of a 7% xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix (Experiment 2: XBS coffee mix, n = 16) twice per day for 6 weeks. During the study, clinical efficacy was assessed by a daily diary record. The subjects recorded their defecation frequency and fecal characteristics. Results: During pretreatment week, mean defecation frequency of XBS subjects was 2.13 times/week, whereas that of XBS coffee mix subjects was 1.56 times/week. The mean defecation frequencies of XBS and XBS coffee mix subjects increased significantly to 3.73 times/week (p < 0.05) and 3.56 times/week by week 6 (p < 0.05), respectively. After treatment with either XBS or XBS coffee mix, patients presented significant improvements in their amounts of stool, feelings of residual stool leftness, and abdominal pain symptoms (p < 0.05). The total constipation scoring system (CSS) for diagnosing constipation symptoms significantly decreased in the XBS group (10.53 score vs 7.22 score) and in the XBS coffee mix group (10.75 score vs 6.51 score) after 6 weeks. Improvement due to intake of 7% xylobiose-containing sugar seemed to last during the experimental period. Conclusion: The addition of approximately 7% xylobiose to commercially available sweeteners has been shown to improve constipation.
The effects of XBS and XBS coffee mix intake on bowel movement frequencies for subjects (A) Weekly transition of the mean number of stools for subjects (B) Weekly transition of the number of days with defecation for subjects. XBS: xylobiose-sugar mixture group, XBS coffee mix: xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix group. ∗Significant difference from the pretreatment (p < 0.05)
The effects of XBS and XBS coffee mix intake on the stool states for subjects: (A) Weekly transitions in stool amounts, (B) Weekly transitions in stool types. Constipated: including type 1 and type 2 on Bristol stool chart (Type 1: Separate hard lumps, Type 2: Lumpy and sausage-like), Normal: including type 3, type 4, and type 5 on Bristol stool chart (Type 3: A sausage shape with cracks in the surface, Type 4: Like a smooth, soft sausage or snake, Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges), Inflammation: including type 6 and type 7 on Bristol stool chart (Type 6: Mushy consistency with ragged edges, Type 7: Liquid consistency with no solid pieces). XBS: xylobiose-sugar mixture group, XBS coffee mix: xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix group. ∗Significant difference from the pretreatment (p < 0.05)
Bristol stool scale (Bristol stool chart)
General characteristics and defecation state of pretreatment stages for subjects
Experiment 1: XBS | Experiment 2: XBS coffee mix | |
---|---|---|
Age (year) | 22.6 ± 1.81) | 21.7 ± 2.4 |
Height (cm) | 162.4 ± 4.2 | 164.8 ± 5.3 |
Weight (kg) | 56.1 ± 6.9 | 56.1 ± 5.6 |
BMI (kg/m2) | 21.3 ± 2.5 | 20.6 ± 1.5 |
The duration of constipation experience (yr) | 6.1 ± 4.7 | 5.5 ± 4.0 |
Stool frequency per week (N, %) | ||
≤ 2 times /week | 12 (80.0) | 16 (100.0) |
≥ 3 times /week | 3 (20.0) | 0 (0.0) |
The use of laxatives (N, %) | 4 (26.7) | 10 (62.5) |
The use of alleviation of constipation (N, %) | 3 (20.0) | 7 (43.8) |
Seasoning | 3 (20.0) | 5 (31.3) |
Dietary fiber intake | 0 (0.0) | 2 (12.5) |
Methods used to control diet (N, %) | 1 (6.7) | 7 (43.8) |
Dairy products intake | 0 (0.0) | 2 (12.5) |
Vegetable and fruit intake | 1 (6.7) | 2 (12.5) |
Other | 0 (0.0) | 3 (18.8) |
1) Mean ± SD
XBS: xylobiose-sugar mixture group, XBS coffee mix: xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix group
The effect of XBS and XBS coffee mix intake on the abdominal states for subjects
Pretreatment | 1 week | 2 week | 3 week | 4 week | 5 week | 6 week | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Experiment 1: XBS | |||||||
Abdominal pain | 2.87 ± 0.74 | 2.89 ± 0.49 | 3.15 ± 0.78 | 3.35 ± 0.80 | 3.39 ± 0.49∗ | 3.00 ± 0.55 | 3.31 ± 0.63 |
Abdominal distension symptom | 1.93 ± 0.70 | 2.07 ± 0.80 | 2.47 ± 0.74∗ | 2.40 ± 0.91∗ | 2.73 ± 0.80∗ | 2.80 ± 0.68∗ | 2.76 ± 0.26∗ |
Pain during bowel movement | 2.87 ± 0.74 | 2.90 ± 0.53 | 2.99 ± 0.63 | 3.20 ± 0.64 | 3.27 ± 0.47∗ | 3.08 ± 0.47 | 3.29 ± 0.46∗ |
Abdominal displeasure | 2.67 ± 0.98 | 3.07 ± 0.96∗ | 2.93 ± 0.96 | 3.07 ± 0.80∗ | 3.20 ± 0.86∗ | 3.27 ± 0.88∗ | 2.97 ± 0.47 |
Feelings of residual stool leftness | 2.33 ± 0.49 | 2.67 ± 0.64 | 3.03 ± 0.71∗ | 3.12 ± 0.71∗ | 2.93 ± 0.63∗ | 3.17 ± 0.52∗ | 3.18 ± 0.68∗ |
Experiment 2: XBS coffee mix | |||||||
Abdominal pain | 2.63 ± 0.79 | 2.78 ± 0.70 | 3.09 ± 0.69 | 3.37 ± 0.70∗ | 3.22 ± 0.89∗ | 3.27 ± 0.71∗ | 3.44 ± 0.96∗ |
Abdominal distension symptom | 2.31 ± 0.79 | 2.44 ± 0.80 | 2.69 ± 0.87 | 2.81 ± 0.98∗ | 3.13 ± 0.96∗ | 3.19 ± 0.98∗ | 3.31 ± 0.93∗ |
Pain during bowel movement | 2.81 ± 0.91 | 3.07 ± 0.76 | 3.17 ± 0.96 | 3.47 ± 0.76∗ | 3.44 ± 0.98∗ | 3.28 ± 0.65 | 3.33 ± 0.74∗ |
Abdominal displeasure | 3.06 ± 0.68 | 3.06 ± 0.77 | 3.25 ± 0.68 | 3.38 ± 0.72 | 3.50 ± 0.82∗ | 3.44 ± 0.89∗ | 3.35 ± 1.22 |
Feelings of residual stool leftness | 2.47 ± 0.67 | 3.02 ± 0.87∗ | 3.01 ± 0.76∗ | 3.02 ± 0.56∗ | 3.15 ± 0.63∗ | 3.34 ± 0.75∗ | 3.21 ± 0.78∗ |
Mean ± SD
XBS: xylobiose-sugar mixture group, XBS Coffee mix: xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix group ∗Significant difference from the pretreatment (p < 0.05)
The weekly increase in minutes spent in the lavatory per attempt
Experiment 1: | Experiment 2: | |
---|---|---|
XBS | XBS coffee mix | |
Pretreatment | 15.50 ± 7.86 | 12.19 ± 7.06 |
1 week | 9.67 ± 5.97∗ | 8.28 ± 3.50∗ |
2 week | 9.33 ± 5.71∗ | 7.97 ± 4.30∗ |
3 week | 8.67 ± 5.58∗ | 7.97 ± 3.68∗ |
4 week | 9.33 ± 5.71∗ | 7.50 ± 3.16∗ |
5 week | 8.33 ± 3.62∗ | 7.50 ± 3.16∗ |
6 week | 8.83 ± 3.99∗ | 5.94 ± 1.25∗ |
Mean ± SD XBS: xylobiose-sugar mixture group, XBS Coffee mix: xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix group. ∗Significant difference from the pretreatment (p < 0.05)
The effect of XBS and XBS coffee mix intake on the constipation scoring system (CSS) for subjects
Experiment 1: | Experiment 2: | |
---|---|---|
XBS | XBS coffee mix | |
Pretreatment | 10.53 ± 2.04 | 10.75 ± 2.57 |
1 week | 8.79 ± 2.13∗ | 8.33 ± 2.75∗ |
2 week | 7.59 ± 2.48∗ | 7.55 ± 2.68∗ |
3 week | 7.35 ± 2.59∗ | 6.94 ± 2.09∗ |
4 week | 7.33 ± 1.54∗ | 7.39 ± 2.51∗ |
5 week | 7.46 ± 1.68∗ | 6.73 ± 2.20∗ |
6 week | 7.22 ± 2.13∗ | 6.51 ± 2.79∗ |
Mean ± SD XBS: xylobiose-sugar mixture group, XBS Coffee mix: xylobiose-sugar mixture containing coffee mix group ∗Significant difference from the pretreatment (p < 0.05)