Abstract
Polydextrose has been reported to promote bowel elimination. The clinical efficacy of polydextrose administered at a daily dose of 7g for 30 days was examined in 23 patients with habitual constipation and melanosis coli found by total colonoscopy. After the start of treatment with polydextrose, 13(56.5%) of the 23 patients noted improvement in constipation (dyschezia). The stool consisitency of stools improved in 17 (85.0%) of 20 patients having had hard stools. The frequency of defecation increased in 13 (81.3%) of 16 patients who of fecal properties. After the use of polydextrose for 30 days, the effects of polydextrose was noted in 20(87.0%) of the 23 patients in total as (1) improvement in constipation, (2) increased frequency of defecation, (3) softened the stool consisitency, (4) improvement in other bowel symptoms, or (5) reduced laxative dose, or two or more of those. These results indicated a clinical effects of polydextrose for the treatment of habitual constipation in patients with melanosis coli.
