Konjac, An Excellent Choice When Treating Constipation

Treatment of constipation often involves an increased intake of water and fibre (either dietary or as a supplement).
When Konjac powder is taken with water a natural bulk-forming dietary fibre is formed that can act as a laxative while being devoid of relevant side-effects. This makes Konjac an excellent choice when considering a treatment for constipation.

Clinical Study 1

Action of glucomannan on complaints in patients affected with chronic constipation: a multicentric clinical evaluation.

Chronic constipation is a very frequent disease in western countries but fibres can often solve the problem. In this study, authors tested the efficacy and the acceptability of Konajc glucomannan hydrophilic carbohydrates with a high degree of viscosity, in 93 patients affected with chronic constipation.

The multicentric, open and non-controlled study was divided into an initial phase (treatment with 1g of glucomannan three times per day for 1 month) and a maintenance phase (1g two times per day for one month). We evaluated both objective parameters (number of days per week with bowel movements and number of enemas) and abdominal symptoms. After one month all assessed parameters showed a statistically significant improvement lasting through the second month. Glucomannan were well accepted and devoid of relevant side-effects. In conclusion, considering its efficacy and tolerability, they can be proposed as an ideal therapeutic tool in the management of chronic constipation symptoms.

REF: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1742540

Note: This study used 1gm of Glucomannan per treatment which can be obtained by consuming half a teaspoon of Kapiti Health Foods Konjac Powder or a quarter teaspoon of Glucomannan Powder.

Clinical Study 2

Konjac acts as a natural laxative by increasing stool bulk and improving colonic ecology in healthy adults.

Objective

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been shown to relieve constipation, which could be associated with increased stool bulk and improved colonic ecology.

Methods

This placebo-controlled study consisted of a 21-day placebo period, a 7-day adaptation period when volunteers consumed KGM progressively, and a 21-day KGM-supplemented period (1.5 g/meal, 4.5 g/day). Eight healthy adults consumed 7-day cycle menus of typical low-fibre food throughout the study. The gastrointestinal response was monitored daily. Stools were fully collected on days 15 to 21 of placebo and KGM periods to determine the faecal mass, components, microflora, and short-chain fatty acid contents.

Results

The KGM supplement significantly increased the mean defecation frequency (number/day), wet stool weight, and dry stool weight (g/d) by ∼27.0% (P < 0.05), 30.2% (P < 0.05), and 21.7% (P < 0.05), respectively. The dry faecal mass increased mainly in the plant and soluble material, whereas bacterial mass tended to increase from 12.9 ± 1.6 to 13.6 ± 2.7 g/d (P > 0.05). However, KGM significantly promoted the faecal concentrations (log counts/g wet faeces) of lactobacilli (P < 0.05) and total bacteria (P < 0.05), and promoted the daily output (log counts per day) of bifidobacteria (P < 0.05), lactobacilli (P < 0.05), and total bacteria (P < 0.05) as evaluated by the fluorescence in situ hybridization method. KGM supplement also promoted colonic fermentation as shown in the decreased faecal pH (P < 0.05) and increased fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Supplementation of KGM into a low-fibre diet promoted the defecation frequency in healthy adults, possibly by increasing the stool bulk, thus promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria and colonic fermentation.

REF: Nutrition Journal.