In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of foods, drinks, and diets on adults suffering from chronic constipation. According to the findings, fruits, like kiwifruits, and rye bread appear to have positive effects on certain constipation-related issues. Nevertheless, the available evidence regarding the influence of alternative foods, beverages, and dietary patterns on constipation is still limited.

This comprehensive study, undertaken to fill a crucial gap in existing research, sheds light on various dietary interventions and their effects on  quality of life, therapeutic response, stool output, compliance, gut transit time, adverse events, and symptoms. Electronic databases were explored to determine relevant studies. Intervention trials, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized, uncontrolled trials, were taken into consideration. The risk of bias in RCTs was examined utilizing Cochrane 2.0, while uncontrolled trials were examined with the aid of JBI Critical Appraisal.

Data from RCTs were examined using risk ratios (RRs), mean differences (MDs), and standardized mean differences accompanied by a 95% confidence interval (CI), employing random-effects synthesis. Investigators analyzed a total of 23 studies encompassing 1714 subjects, comprising 17 RCTs and 6 uncontrolled trials. The interventions included kiwifruit (7 studies), high-mineral water (4 studies), prunes (2 studies), rye bread (2 studies), and single studies on yogurt, prune juice, mango, fig, cereal, no-fiber diet, oat bran, water supplementation, and high-fiber diet.

Fruits, particularly kiwifruits, elicited a higher stool frequency when compared to psyllium (mean difference [MD]: +0.36 bowel movements per week, [0.25-0.48], n = 232), while prunes illustrated no vital difference in comparison with psyllium. Rye bread aroused enhanced stool frequency when  compared to white bread (MD: +0.43 bowel movements per week, [0.03-0.83], n = 48). Additionally, high-mineral water demonstrated a better therapeutic response when compared to low-mineral water (risk ratio [RR]: 1.47, [1.20-1.81], n = 539).

The study underscored the potential of fruits and rye bread in improving constipation-related outcomes but highlighted the importance of ongoing research to refine dietary recommendations for individuals struggling with chronic constipation. This research, conducted with a meticulous approach, paves the way for further exploration into the realm of dietary approaches for chronic constipation, marking a noteworthy step forward in gastroenterological studies.