TUCSON, ARIZ. — A homemade stool-bulking agent was just as effective as commercial psyllium in relieving symptoms of constipation in a randomized trial conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
The recipe containing applesauce, unprocessed wheat bran, and prune juice cost about half as much as a commercial psyllium product, Konsyl, reported Dr. Peter Drewes and his associates from the medical center in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons.
Subjects for the trial were drawn from patients presenting to the university's urogynecology clinic who met Rome II criteria for constipation.
A total of 82 patients were randomized and 53 completed the 6-week study, including 30 randomized to take 1 teaspoon of psyllium in 8 ounces of liquid daily for 6 weeks or 4 tablespoons a day of the bowel recipe. All subjects received educational information on how dietary choices and fluids can influence constipation. They all kept bowel diaries. Results were calculated using pre- and posttrial scores on a 30-point constipation scoring system, with a higher score indicating more severe constipation.
Constipation was relieved in both groups, with scores declining from 13.9 to 9.0 for the psyllium users and 13.6 to 8.5 for the recipe users during the 6-week trial.
The cost of 6 weeks' worth of the bowel recipe was $8.65, compared with $16.72 for the commercial psyllium product.
The authors concluded that the homemade recipe was “an effective and economical stool-bulking agent for the treatment of constipation.”
Pantry Remedy For Constipation
1 cup applesauce
1 cup coarse, unprocessed wheat bran
1/4 cup prune juice
Source: Dr. Drewes