We examined the effects of powdered Mekabu (sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida) extract on bowel movement disorder among 15 elderly aged 65 years old or more and living in nursing homes.
The participants were administered 1 g of powdered Mekabu extract (Mekabu group, n=10) or starch (control group, n=5) along with their meal once a day for 4 weeks.
In the Mekabu group, the frequency of defecation, amount of stool per defecation and amount of stool per week significantly increased after ingestion for 4 weeks (p<0.05) . Moreover, fecal microbiota analysis of the Mekabu group showed that the occupancy rates of Lactobacilli (p<0.05) and Clostridium subcluster XIVa (p<0.01) significantly increased after ingestion for 4 weeks. Furthermore, the phenol concentration of the Mekabu group significantly decreased after ingestion for 4 weeks (p<0.01) .
These results suggest that intake of powdered Mekabu extract improves the bowel movements of elderly people.
