The effect of 'Zesy002' kiwifruit ( Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis ) on gut health function: a randomised cross-over clinical trial

• Published in: Journal of nutritional science (Cambridge) Vol. 8; p. e18
• Main Authors: Eady, Sarah L, Wallace, Alison J, Butts, Christine A, Hedderley, Duncan, Drummond, Lynley, Ansell, Juliet, Gearry, Richard B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cambridge University Press 2019
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - complications; Actinidia - chemistry; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Clinical trials; Complete spontaneous bowel movements; Constipation; Constipation - drug therapy; Consumption; Cross-Over Studies; Defecation; Diabetes; Diet; Double-Blind Method; Enzymes; Feces; Female; Food; Fruit - chemistry; Fruits; Gastrointestinal comfort; Gastrointestinal Tract - drug effects; Gastrointestinal Transit - drug effects; Humans; Intestines - drug effects; Irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - complications; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - drug therapy; Kiwifruit; Laxatives; Male; Metamucil; Microbiota; Middle Aged; New Zealand; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Psyllium - therapeutic use; Single-Blind Method; Studies; Systematic review; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; New Zealand; Metamucil; IBS-C, irritable bowel syndrome complicated with constipation; Kiwifruit; BSS, Bristol Stool Scale; Gastrointestinal comfort; FC, functional constipation; IBS-SSI, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Index; CBM, complete bowel movement; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; Complete spontaneous bowel movements; CSBM, complete spontaneous bowel movement; SBM, spontaneous bowel movement; GSRS, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale; Constipation
• ISSN: 2048-6790; 2048-6790
• DOI: 10.1017/jns.2019.14

Functional gastrointestinal disorders including constipation affect up to 14 % of the world's population. Treatment is difficult and challenging resulting in a need for alternative safe and effective therapies. The present study investigated whether daily consumption of three gold-fleshed kiwifruit could alleviate constipation and improve gastrointestinal discomfort in mildly constipated individuals with and without pain. A total of thirty-two participants were enrolled in a 16-week randomised, single-blind, crossover study. Participants received either three 'Zesy002' kiwifruit or 14·75 g Metamucil
(5 g dietary fibre/d (a positive control)) for 4 weeks each with a 4-week washout between treatments. A 2-week washout period was included at the beginning and end of the study. Daily bowel habit diaries were kept throughout the study. The primary outcome measure was differences in the number of complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBM). Secondary outcome measures were bowel movement frequency and stool form as well as digestive symptoms and comfort. The number of CSBM per week was significantly greater during daily consumption of three kiwifruit compared with the baseline (6·3
3·3;
< 0·05) and the Metamucil
treatment (6·3
4·5;
< 0·05). Stool consistency was also improved, with kiwifruit producing softer stools and less straining (
< 0·05). Gastrointestinal discomfort was also improved compared with baseline for abdominal pain, constipation and indigestion (
< 0·05) during the kiwifruit intervention and constipation during the Metamucil
intervention (
< 0·05). This randomised controlled trial demonstrates that daily consumption of three gold-fleshed kiwifruit is associated with a significant increase of two CSBM per week and reduction in gastrointestinal discomfort in mildly constipated adults.