If you find a solution that offers relief from constipation, but does not identify the underlying cause, you may be putting yourself at risk for long term health problems.

A very common cause of constipation is allergy or sensitivity to certain foods.  We have seen hundreds of patients get permanent relief from constipation by identifying and either avoiding or eliminating their sensitivity reactions to certain foods.  Follow an elimination diet for 7 days and see if your constipation improves or disappears.

Another common cause of constipation is an imbalance in the natural bacterial balance in the intestine.  Taking probiotic bacteria (bifido bacteria) can recreate the natural balance that is necessary for normal bowel movements.

Inadequate intake of magnesium can lead to constipation.   Taking 200-600 mg of magnesium citrate can correct the imbalance and alleviate constipation.

Constipation can be a symptom of low thyroid function.  In addition to constipation, if you have difficulty keeping your weight down, have cold sensitivity, dry skin, hair loss, feel sluggish and fatigued and experience headaches, you may have low thyroid function.  Ask you doctor to order a blood test and check you levels of T4, T3 and TSH.  It is important to check all three levels.  Just checking one level may miss a low thyroid diagnosis.

Lack of fiber in your diet can cause constipation.  The best fruits for alleviating constipation include bael fruit, pear, guava, grapes, papaya and figs.  Juicing 100 ml. of raw spinach mixed with an equal amount of water and taken twice daily is a fast and easy fix for constipation.

Feel free to email me at drgaila@drgaila.com if you have any questions.

Dr. Gaila

Association between dietary fiber, water and magnesium intake and functional constipation among young Japanese women

Guarantor: S Sasaki.

Contributors: KM was involved in the study designing, data collection

K Murakami1, S Sasaki1, H Okubo2, Y Takahashi1, Y Hosoi1, M Itabashi1 and and the Freshmen in Dietetic Courses Study II Group

1. ¹Nutritional Epidemiology Program, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
2. ²Department of Nutrition Sciences, Kagawa Nutrition University, Saitama, Japan

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 616-622. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602573; published online 6 December 2006 Received 28 April 2006; Accepted 17 October 2006; Published online 6 December 2006.

Abstract

Objective: Most research on constipation has focused on dietary fiber intake. Here, we examined the intake of water and magnesium, nutrients possibly associated with constipation, as well as that of dietary fiber in relation to constipation.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects: A total of 3835 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18-20 years from 53 institutions in Japan.

Methods: Dietary intake was estimated with a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Functional constipation was defined using the Rome I criteria.

Results: The prevalence of functional constipation was 26.2%. Neither dietary fiber intake (mean=6.4 g/4186 kJ) nor intakes of total water and water from fluids were associated with constipation. Conversely, low intake of water from foods was associated with an increasing prevalence of constipation. In comparison with women in the first (lowest) quintile, the multivariate adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for women in the second, third, fourth, and fifth quintiles were 0.72 (0.57, 0.90), 0.78 (0.62, 0.98), 0.71 (0.56, 0.89), and 0.77 (0.61, 0.97), respectively (P for trend=0.04). Additionally, low magnesium intake was associated with increasing prevalence of constipation. Compared with women in the first quintile, the multivariate adjusted OR (95% CI) for women in the second, third, fourth and fifth quintiles were 0.70 (0.56, 0.88), 0.75 (0.60, 0.95), 0.73 (0.58, 0.92) and 0.79 (0.63, 0.996), respectively (P for trend=0.09).

Conclusions: Low intakes of water from foods and magnesium are independently associated with an increasing prevalence of functional constipation among a population whose dietary fiber intake is relatively low.

s Bifidobacterium breve effective in the treatment of childhood constipation? Results from a pilot study

MM Tabbers^*, I de Milliano, MG Roseboom and MA Benninga Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Emma Children’s Hospital/Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Nutrition Journal 2011, 10:19 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-19

© 2011 Tabbers et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Abstract

Background

Probiotics are increasingly used in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Studies in constipated adults with a Bifidus yoghurt (containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus) showed a significant increase in defecation frequency. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if Bifidobacterium breve is effective in the treatment of childhood constipation.

Methods

Children, 3 to 16 years of age, with functional constipation according to the Rome III criteria were eligible for this study. During 4 weeks, children received one sachet of powder daily, containing 10⁸- 10¹⁰ CFU Bifidobacterium breve. Furthermore, children were instructed to try to defecate on the toilet for 5-10 minutes after each meal and to complete a standardized bowel diary daily. The primary outcome measure was change in defecation frequency. Secondary outcome measures were stool consistency using the Bristol stool scale frequency of episodes of faecal incontinence, pain during defecation, frequency of abdominal pain, frequency of adverse effects (nausea, diarrhoea and bad taste), and frequency of intake of bisacodyl.

Results

Twenty children (75% male, mean age 7.4) were included in this pilot study. The defecation frequency per week significantly increased from 0.9 (0-2) at baseline to 4.9 (0-21) in week 4 (p < 0.01). The mean stool consistency score increased from 2.6 (2-4) at baseline to 3.5 (1-6) in week 4 (p = 0.03). The number of faecal incontinence episodes per week significantly decreased from 9.0 (0-35) at baseline to 1.5 (0-7) in week 4 (p < 0.01). Abdominal pain episodes per week significantly decreased from 4.2 (0-7) at baseline to 1.9 (0-7) in week 4 (p = 0.01). No side effects occurred.

Conclusion

Bifidobacterium breve is effective in increasing stool frequency in children with functional constipation. Furthermore it has a positive effect with respect to stool consistency, decreasing the number of faecal incontinence episodes and in diminishing abdominal pain.

Multiple food hypersensitivity as a cause of refractory chronic constipation in adults.

Carroccio A, Di Prima L, Iacono G, Florena AM, D’Arpa F, Sciumè C, Cefalù AB, Noto D, Averna MR.

Source

Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Palermo, Italy.

Abstract

Chronic constipation that is unresponsive to laxative treatment is a severe illness, but children unresponsive to laxatives have been successfully treated with an elimination diet. We report the first cases of refractory chronic constipation caused by food hypersensitivity in adults. Four patients with refractory constipation who were unresponsive to high doses of laxatives were put on an oligo-antigenic diet and underwent successive double-blind, placebo-controlled, food challenges (DBPFC). Routine laboratory tests, immunological assays, colonoscopy, esophago-gastroduodenoscopy and rectal and duodenal histology were performed. While on an elimination diet, bowel habits normalized in all patients and a DBPFC challenge triggered the reappearance of constipation. In comparison with another 13 patients with refractory constipation unresponsive to the elimination diet, observed over the same period, the patients with food-hypersensitivity-related constipation had the following characteristics: longer duration of illness (p < 0.03), lower body mass index (p < 0.03), higher frequency of self-reported food intolerance (p < 0.01), higher frequency of nocturnal abdominal pain and anal itching (p < 0.01). In patients with food hypersensitivity, hemoglobin concentrations and peripheral leukocytes were lower than those in controls (p < 0.03). The duodenal and rectal mucosa histology showed lymphocyte and eosinophil infiltration, and the duodenal villi were flattened in two cases. In adult patients, refractory chronic constipation may be caused by food hypersensitivity and an elimination diet is effective in these subjects.

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2006 Apr;41(4):498-504.

PMID: 16635922 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]