• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.702-713
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• 2009

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of constipation, bowel habits and nutrient intakes of college students. The subjects were 353 college students (166 males and 187 females) aged 19 to 29 years in Incheon area. The subjects were asked about bowel habits and dietary intake using questionnaires during march, 2008 and the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) was based on the Rome II criteria. The prevalence of FC in male and female students was 12.7% and 28.9%, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported constipation in male and female students was 12.0% and 36.9%, respectively. Both were higher in female students compared to male students. Among the subjects that have self-reported constipation, proportions of FC were 35.0% in male students and 55.1% in female students. Of subjects that did not self-reported constipation, the proportions of FC were 9.6% in male students and 13.6% in female students. Over 90% of respondents that self-reported constipation in male students, had neither visited a hospital and nor used laxatives or functional foods for constipation relief. Seventy five point three percent of male students, and 40.1% of female students, had a defecation frequency of over 5 times per week (p < 0.001). Ratios intaken under the estimated average requirement (EAR) of Vit A, Vit C, folic acid and Ca were over the 50% regardless of functional constipation. Mean daily consumption of total dietary fiber was 15.0 g/day in male students and 13.5 g/day in female students. According to these results, both functional constipation and self-reported constipation are more frequent in female college students and further studies are required in case-control study and related to psychological factors as well as nutrients to relieve of constipation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.487-495
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• 2020

This study examined the effects of auricular acupressure on female college students with functional constipation to propose auricular acupressure as an effective and evidence-based nursing intervention. This is an experimental study designed with randomization and single-blind in a Sham-control approach. The subjects included 44 female college students with functional constipation whose symptoms met the Rome IV criteria. In this study, five different acupressure sites were applied to each group; the experimental group (n=23) received auricular acupressure on rectum, large intestine, lung, san jiao, and shenmen, whereas the Sham control group (n=21) received acupressure on ankle, helix, tooth, jaw, and external ear. The intervention was implemented once a week for a total of six weeks. After six weeks, the severity of constipation, stool form, and quality of life regarding constipation in the experimental group significantly improved compared to that of the Sham control group (p<.001). Consequently, the study showed that auricular acupressure can be used as an effective nursing intervention to alleviate constipation in female college students.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.752-756
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study was to compare 2 laxatives, namely, polyethylene glycol 4000 without electrolytes and lactulose, evaluating the efficacy and safety for the treatment of constipation in children. Methods : Fifty-six children with chronic functional constipation were randomly assigned to receive polyethylene glycol 4000 (24 patients) or lactulose (32 patients). Patients or their parents reported defecation frequency, stool consistency, abdominal pain, stool incontinence and side effects after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Percentage of recovered patients were compared with each group. Results : Defecation frequency, abdominal pain and stool incontinence were improved in each group. At 12 months of follow up, 60% of patients treated with polyethylene glycol and 57.7% of patients treated with lactulose were considered as recovered. Conclusion : In this study, both polyethylene glycol and lactulose were equally effective and safe in the long-term treatment of constipation in children. There were no significant differences in recovery rates between 2 groups.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.620-627
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• 2010

The study purpose was to investigate correlations among dietary habits score, life stress score and health-related quality of life (HRQL) score for female college students with functional constipation (FC). The data were collected in 2008 from 265 female college students: 86 with FC and 179 without FC. The diagnosis of FC was based on the Rome II criteria, and life stress and HRQL were assessed using self-administered life stress questionnaire and SF-36, respectively. The correlations among dietary habit score, life stress score, and HRQL score were evaluated. The averages of age, height, weight, body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) of female college students were 20.8 years, 160.9 cm, 53.7 kg, 27.8%, and $20.7\;kg/m^2$, respectively. The average dietary habit score of "having meals with diverse foods" was significantly lower in the FC group than in the normal group (p < 0.05). The average faculty problem (p < 0.05), grade problem (p < 0.05), economy problem (p < 0.05), value problem (p < 0.05), and total stress (p < 0.01) scores of the FC group were significantly higher than those of the normal group. The average HRQL score was 70.4 in the FC group and 74.3 in the normal group (p < 0.05). There were significantly negative correlations between total stress score and total food habits score (r = -0.221; p < 0.01) and HRQL score (r = -0.539; p < 0.01) in the FC. These results suggest that female students with FC are highly perceptive to stress and have low HRQL. In addition, female students with FC may require nutritional education about eating diversity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.650-659
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• 2021

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of Chinese gooseberry (kiwi)-based products on the improvement of intestinal function and constipation. In this study, 21 participants with no underlying disease and complaining of subjective constipation symptoms were selected. Through a pre-experimental design, the main effects, including the colon stagnation score and colon transit time, were assessed after the consumption of Chinese gooseberry (kiwi)-based products. To evaluate the side effects of this product, a subjective constipation assessment test was performed to analyze the degree of constipation improvement at an individual level. The results for the main effects revealed that the number of constipation groups was statistically significantly decreased, and the colon stagnation score and colon transit time were also reduced. Additionally, the participants' subjective constipation assessment test revealed a significant improvement in both intestinal function and bowel activity before and after the consumption of Chinese gooseberry (kiwi)-based products. Similar to the previously known kelp-, lactobacillus-, and fiber-based products, we showed that Chinese gooseberry (kiwi)-based products exert a significant effect on the improvement of the intestinal function and constipation. Furthermore, the results of this study provide valuable information for the development of healthy food products in the future that can help improve bowel movement. Moreover, Chinese gooseberry (kiwi) used in this study is not a functional food and is easily accessible. However, this study has several limitations as it is based on a pre-experimental design. Therefore, studies on randomized experimental and control groups are needed in the future.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.428-442
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• 2011

This study investigated the actual status of constipation. In total, 978 female students in Korea participated. We identified the relationship among constipation and life style, clothing patterns, housing patterns, dietary habits, and dietary intake in a constipation symptom group and a normal group. The actual constipation rate based on the Rome II criteria was 27.0% (n = 264). Body weight (p < 0.05) and body mass index (p < 0.05) in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The incidence of functional bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The discomfort of wearing underwear was significantly higher in the constipation group than that in the normal group. The constipation group revealed a significantly higher rate of irregular dietary habits than those in the normal group. The dietary diversity score of the normal group was 4.22 (p < 0.05), which was significantly higher than that of constipation group (4.12). No significant difference in life style factors was observed. It is necessary for university female students to correct their dietary habits, maintain food intake of three times per day, and select diverse foods. Furthermore, it is necessary for university female students to wear comfortable clothing to lessen symptoms and improve constipation rates.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2014

This study investigated the improvement effects of fermented chicory fiber (FCF) on the intestinal function and constipation. The condition of fermentation was Bifidobacterium thermophilum added into chicory fiber (CF) flour suspension with the range of a 1% before incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hr. The intestinal improvement effect of FCF was measured by the charcoal meal transit method in Balb/c mice. The intestinal transit with FCF at a dose of 1.62 mg/g was significantly increased to 88% compared with the CF group (P<0.01). Further, the constipation relief effect was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats with loperamide-induced constipation. After oral administration of FCF 2.06 mg/g was remarkably decreased to 75% in fecal output compared with CF group (P<0.01). These findings indicated that FCF was more effective than CF for the intestinal function and constipation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.720-726
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate effects of raw sea tangle products on idiopathic constipation. A total of thirty-eight women participated voluntarily in this study. They were placed into one of four groups by their total colonic transit time (TCTT) to make the four groups have the same TCTT. In the first trial, the subjects in Control group were fed 3 times of 150 mL of mineral water per day for 2 weeks, those in +Control group were fed a kind of stool softener as well as the same mineral water for 3 times, those in STT group were fed 3 times of 150 mL of sea tangle tea and those in STB group were fed 3 times of 150 mL of sea tangle beverage. After 6 weeks, a second trial was performed for another 2 weeks. Although the TCTT of the group exposed to of KolomarkTM was not significantly reduced, the subjects in STT group answered that their evacuation activities were significantly improved; evacuation frequency was increased, stool hardness was reduced, evacuation straining was lessened, stool amount was increased, incomplete sense of evacuation was lessened, and major evacuation time was improved like those in +Control group. The results imply that it is worthy to develop some products of raw sea tangle such as STT, which are effective in treating or preventing constipation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.200-209
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long term outcome and the factors contributing to treatment outcome for chronic functional constipation in children. Methods: Sixty three children were enrolled who had chronic functional constipation and could be followed by telephone contact. They were treated at the Bucheon Soonchunhyang Hospital for more than 1 month and observed from March 2001 to June 2005. We analyzed the clinical features, symptoms and signs, as well as the course and results of treatment. Results: The male to female ratio was 35 (55.6%) : 28 (44.4%). The mean age at the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was $21.1{\pm}23.5$ (1.9~84.0) months and $47.1{\pm}34.2$ (6.9~138.0) months, respectively. The mean defecation frequency before treatment was $3.2{\pm}2.3$ (0.5~10.0) times per week. The symptoms associated with constipation were as follows: soiling 34 (54.0%) which was more common in males than females, large stools in 30 (47.6%), decreased bowel movements less than three times a week in 20 (31.7%), straining during defecation in 19 (30.2%) and retentive posturing 19 (30.2%). The mean duration of follow-up was $34.2{\pm}14.6$ (3.6~60.0) months and 44 (69.8%) patients had their symptoms resolve ("success") and 19 (30.2%) were not resloved ("fail") from the constipation. The time for recovery from soiling, straining during defecation and retentive posturing after treatment was $4.3{\pm}2.4$ (1.0~36.0), $5.0{\pm}1.4$ (0.8~36.0) and $5.0{\pm}3.1$ (1.0~36.0) months, respectively. A relapse of the constipation occurred in 15 (23.8%) patients, 9 (60%) boys and 6 (40%) girls. The time to relapse after cessation of treatment was $2.9{\pm}1.9$ (1.0~6.0) months and the only risk factor associated with relapse was the initial duration of treatment. Conclusion: Most of the patients had resolution of symptoms within five months after treatment; relapse occurred within three months after the interruption of treatment. The duration of treatment was important for recovery and for the prevention of relapse in the constipated children. Thus a long term maintenance of therapy and follow-up is necessary for chronic functional constipation in children.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.442-450
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• 2011

We investigated the improvement in intestinal function and the constipation preventive and remedial effects of the fermented milk product R&B $Rhythm^{(R)}$ in mice and rats. The results showed that the effects varied significantly among different doses. The digestive tract transfer rate increased dramatically in a dose-dependent manner in both animals. Compared with treating constipation with loperamide alone, treatment with loperamide and the fermented milk R&B Rhythm improved the number of fecal pellets from the animals, suggesting that it is effective for preventing and relieving constipation. Both the quantity of feces and water content of the feces increased significantly at high levels of yogurt feeding. These results suggest that repetitively ingesting fermented milk products could be effective for preventing and treating constipation symptoms.