Effects of .BETA.1-4 Galactooligosaccharides Administration on Defecation of Healthy Volunteers with Constipation Tendency.

Abstract

A questionnaire survey was conducted in Japan in 128 healthy subjects with a tendency for constipation, to study the effect of beta1-4 linked galactooligosaccharides (4'-GOS) on defaecation. The first group of 78 women was given a beverage containing 2.5 or 5.0 g of 4'-GOS daily for 1 week and another group of 9 men and 41 women were given a beverage containing 10.0 g of 4'-GOS daily for one week. Responses were analysed with respect to the 4'-GOS intake period and the nonintake period. The defaecation frequency (number of times/day) increased while the subjects took the beverage with 5.0 or 10.0 g of 4'-GOS (P<0.05). The number of days/week when they had defaecation increased during the intake period in all subjects in the 4'-GOS 10.0 g group (P<0.05) and in those with low defaecation frequency in the 4'-GOS 5.0 g group (P<0.01). Faeces became softer in the group receiving the beverage containing 5.0 or 10.0 g of 4'-GOS (P<0.05). The frequency of symptoms such as flatus and bowel movement increased in those receiving the beverage containing 10.0 g of 4'-GOS (P<0.05). In conclusion, the beverage containing 5.0 g or 10.0 g of 4'-GOS improved defaecation of persons with a tendency for constipation.