Kiwifruit for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM · July 17, 2012 · Volume 9

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A kiwifruit intervention was found to improve bowel function in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. This was accomplished without side effects, such as heart attacks and stroke associated with the primary drug prescribed to treat the condition, tegaserod.

Discuss

Transcript

An estimated 10-20% of the general population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, accounting for about four million doctor visits a year. What can we do for people?

Well, how about a kiwifruit intervention? Kiwifruit improves bowel function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Thankfully, in English too: “the impact of a four week kiwifruit intervention on bowel function in patients diagnosed with [irritable bowel with constipation].” Two kiwis a day for a month in this study funded by, of course, the world’s largest marketer of kiwis—I’m surprised they didn’t have them eating five a day.

But they did find such a kiwi intervention “shortens colon transit time, increases defecation frequency, and improves bowel function.” Furthermore: “No deleterious effects of kiwifruit consumption on psychological functioning or adverse events were found in these studies.”

Uh, I would hope not. But what they’re hinting at, though, is tegaserod—the most frequently prescribed drug for irritable bowel, until it was pulled from the market out of concern it was killing people, increasing risk of heart attack and stroke.

So, I’d stick with the kiwis.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena

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Sources

Acknowledgements

Images thanks to Karpour via Wikimedia Commons; and justusbluemer, and Liz West via flickr.

Topics

An estimated 10-20% of the general population suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, accounting for about four million doctor visits a year. What can we do for people?

Well, how about a kiwifruit intervention? Kiwifruit improves bowel function in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Thankfully, in English too: “the impact of a four week kiwifruit intervention on bowel function in patients diagnosed with [irritable bowel with constipation].” Two kiwis a day for a month in this study funded by, of course, the world’s largest marketer of kiwis—I’m surprised they didn’t have them eating five a day.

But they did find such a kiwi intervention “shortens colon transit time, increases defecation frequency, and improves bowel function.” Furthermore: “No deleterious effects of kiwifruit consumption on psychological functioning or adverse events were found in these studies.”

Uh, I would hope not. But what they’re hinting at, though, is tegaserod—the most frequently prescribed drug for irritable bowel, until it was pulled from the market out of concern it was killing people, increasing risk of heart attack and stroke.

So, I’d stick with the kiwis.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by Serena

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Images thanks to Karpour via Wikimedia Commons; and justusbluemer, and Liz West via flickr.

Doctor's Note

I have a few other videos that mention kiwi fruit, including the Antioxidant Content of 3,139 Foods, but this is the first of a three-video series on the latest discoveries focusing on them. Next, we’ll examine the role this fruit can play in protecting and repairing DNA in Kiwifruit and DNA Repair, and we’ll then look more broadly at Plant-Based Diets and Cellular Stress Defenses. The role of fruit, fiber, and antioxidants in general may help explain why people eating plant-based diets have improved laxation. See Bulking Up on Antioxidants; Bowels of the Earth; Food Mass Transit; and Say No to Drugs by Saying Yes to More Plants. And also see my other videos on bowel movements.

For more context, check out my associated blog posts: Kiwi Fruit for Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Boosting Gut Flora Without Probiotics; Best Treatment for Constipation; and Cayenne for Irritable Bowel.

For all of my videos on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), see the topic page.

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