Research Note

Effects of Ingestion of Galactosylsucrose onDefecation
of Senile Patients with Constipation Tendencies

Kyoko OOIKE1, Chie ISHIHARA2,Chie MURATA3, Chie MIZOKAWA4,
Fusako MIYA5 Fumiko KAFUKU6, and MidoriYAMAMOTO6

1Osaka Medical Center, National Hospital
2Aiai Nursing Home for Geriatrics
3Hannan Central Hospital
4Department of Social Welfare, Teradamanjyu Hospital
5Department of Surgery, Watanabe Hospital
6Tsuji Academy of Nutrition & Cooking
7Midori Planning of Food & Health

Effects of ingestion of drinks containinggalactosylsucrose(LS) 5g on defecation were studied in 40 senilepatients with constipation tendencies (11 men and 29 women, averageage 80.2±9.6 years). The duration of the experiment wasfour weeks divided into four periods: non-ingestion period1(pre-ingestion period: Ist week), ingestion period 1(2nd week),ingestion period 2(3 rd week), and non-ingestion period2(post-ingestion period: 4th week). The resulting defecationfrequency in patients who defecated less than 4 days a week wassignificantly increased (p<0.05) due to the LS drink ingestion.This increase was observed during both the ingestion period 2 andthe post-ingestion period compared with during the pre-ingestionperiod. The fecal volume significantly increased (p<0.05) duringthe ingestion period I compared with during the pre-ingestionperiod. These results indicate that ingestion of 5g LS/day canimprove defecation of senile patients with constipationtendencies.

Key words: galactosylsucrose, senile patients, constipationdefecation frequency

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