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This abstract was presented as the Public Health Nutrition Theme highlight.
Prunes (dried plums) are perceived to help maintain healthy bowel function(1)and preliminary research suggests they improve stool frequency and consistency in mild constipation(2). The high fibre and sorbitol content may aid in laxation(3), however the effects of prunes on gastrointestinal (GI) health are not well researched and mechanisms of action are unclear.
We conducted a three-arm, parallel group, randomised controlled trial to investigate the dose dependent effect of prunes on GI outcomes. 120 healthy people with 3-6 stools/wk (mean age 35 years, 60% female) were randomised to high-dose prunes (120 g/d + 300 ml water/d), low-dose prunes (80 g/d + 300 ml water/d) or control (300 ml water/d) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was stool weight, assessed by 7-day total stool...