In non-constipated subjects, prunes softened stool consistency in one trial and increased stool weight g vs. No trials found differences in GI symptoms between prunes and comparator. Meta-analysis was not appropriate due to heterogeneity in populations and methods. Two of the trials were limited by unclear risk of bias. Conclusions: In constipation, prunes appear superior to psyllium for improving stool frequency and consistency, however, the evidence for other outcomes and the effects in non-constipated subjects is weak.
Often, home remedies are the first line of treatment for constipation, particularly occasional constipation, with prune juice being among the most popular alternative treatments. In this article, we discuss whether prune juice works for treating constipation and how it compares to whole prunes. We also cover other health benefits of prune juice, how to take it, its side effects and risks, and when to see a doctor.
Many people report that prune juice provides relief from the symptoms of constipation. However, there is only limited scientific research to support these claims. A review suggests that certain fruit juices, such as apple, pear, and prune juice, are generally helpful for constipation, especially in young children. A review from looked specifically at the health benefits of prunes and their juice. The researchers noted that the fruit contains significant amounts of sorbitol, which is a sugar alcohol.
Prune juice contains 6. It draws water into the gut to bulk up the stool and stimulate a bowel movement. Research suggests that sorbitol is an effective laxative that is safe to use, even for older adults. Manufacturers make prune juice from prunes, which are dried plums. Although prune juice appears to offer some benefits for people with constipation, eating whole prunes may be more effective.
Prunes contain more than double the amount of sorbitol than prune juice, at Prunes are also much richer in fiber, which aids the passage of stool through the digestive tract. A serving of 10 prunes, which equates to about g, contains 7. This amount accounts for Compounds from prunes may also act as antibacterial agents in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
The authors of a systematic review concluded that eating prunes may increase the number of bowel movements that a person has and improve the consistency of the stool, making it easier to pass. According to a study , eating dried plums may be a safer, tastier, and more effective way to relieve constipation compared with psyllium, which is a fiber supplement that people commonly take as a constipation remedy.
The researchers even suggest that people should consider using prunes as a first-line therapy for mild-to-moderate constipation. Studies suggest that prunes may help with the following:. Traditionally, people have also used prunes to treat fever and jaundice. However, scientific evidence to support these benefits is lacking.
There are no set guidelines on the use of prune juice for constipation. One of the reasons for this is that most of the research on the effects of dried plums has focused on the whole fruits rather than the juice. In one small study from , participants consumed prune juice daily for 2 weeks. The results of the study suggested that drinking milliliters, or about half a cup, twice a day works as an effective laxative, at least in cases of mild constipation.
When it comes to eating prunes for digestive issues, many studies base their findings on eating g, or approximately 10 whole prunes, each day. Consuming prunes or prune juice is a relatively low-risk remedy for constipation. The most common side effect that people report is an increase in flatulence , or gas.
However, prune juice is also very high in sugar and calories , with each cup of canned juice containing calories and Too much sugar can increase the risk of weight gain and blood sugar problems.
The whole fruits are still high in sugar and calories, but research suggests that they have only a small effect on blood sugar and insulin levels. For fourteen weeks, the researchers followed forty subjects, aged , whose symptoms met the Rome III criteria for chronic constipation, but not for irritable bowel syndrome IBS.
For the first week, the study participants used no laxatives or other constipation treatments. The researchers then randomly assigned half of the participants to start with a treatment of 11g of psyllium with 8oz of water, twice a day, and the other half to start with 50g of prunes approximately 12 prunes with meals, twice a day.
Each treatment equalled 6g of fibre a day. After three weeks, there was another one-week washout period before the groups switched and used the opposite treatment for three weeks. Throughout the first eight weeks of the study, participants completed a daily stool symptom diary. They then returned to their regular constipation remedies for six weeks, completing the daily symptom diary for only the final week of that period, before meeting with the researchers for a final follow-up visit.
The researchers found that, while both treatments provided constipation relief, the average number of CSBMs per week was significantly higher during treatment with prunes than with psyllium, with an average of 3.
The researchers also note that the prune therapy resulted in softer stools, although straining scores were about the same with both treatments. The study participants found the remedies equally palatable and experienced no symptoms such as postprandial fullness or bloating with either treatment. The laxative mechanism of prunes is not yet fully known but researchers suspect it is likely related to the combination of sorbitol, water-soluble fibre, and polyphenols that they contain.
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