• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.675-683
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of constipation nutrition knowledge on dietary fiber and frequency of dietary fiber foods intake of 3rd grade high school girls in Kangnung and Seoul. The total 412 questionnaires were analyzed. Defecation frequency was irregular in 47.6% of the students 21.6% had less than twice a week. Those who were in a hurry during defecation frequency was irregular in 47.6% of the students 21.6% had less than twice a week. Those who were in a hurry during defecation were 57.9% and those spent more than 10 min. for defecation were 21.8% More than half of the students(56.6%) answered to have constipation and 13.8% had taken laxative pills more than once during the last one month period. The nutrition knowledge score was relatively high 7.63 points out of possible 10. Dietary fiber intake scores measured by food frequency questionnaire were 3.78 for fruits 3.71 points out of possible 10. Dietary fiber food intake scores measured by food frequency questionnaire were 3.78 for fruits 3.71 for vegetables and 3.37 for seaweeds meaning taken once a week to 2-3 times per month. For the diagnosis of defecation difficulty a factor called "constipation index" was introduced which was composed of defecation frequency time spending for defecation easiness in defecation and feeling of residue in the intestine after defecation. The Cronbach a coefficient of constipation index was 71. Constipation index was significantly correlated with stress level(p<0.05) haste during defecation(p<.01) and defecation time(p<.01) The higher the stress level the more hurry during defecation and the later the defecation the higher the constipation index. The students who ate more often vegetables and seaweeds had lower constipation index(p<.05, p<.01)05, p<.01)

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 2005

Background and Objectives : Constipation is a common digestive disorder and enema is one of the external intervention for constipation. Coffee enema was originated by Dr. Gerson for the purpose of colon cleansing and detoxification. However there has been no study about the effect of coffee enema on constipation. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate the effect of coffee enema on constipation in the terms of constipation degree and satisfaction questionnaire. Methods : 42 patients were treated of the coffee enema 2 times a week. The constipation score(Constipation Assessment Scale) and frequency of defecation were checked 3 times (before treatment, 1 week and 1 month later). The satisfaction score was also checked 1 week and 1 month later. The interval differences of constipation score between pre- and post-treatment according to body mass index were also analyzed. Results and Conclusions : The constipation scores, frequency of defecation scores checked 1 week and 1 month later were significantly(p<0.01) improved as compared with those before the treatment. The satisfaction scores were close to 'moderately satisfied' 1 week and 1 month later. The scores of 6 parameters in constipation assessment scale, frequency of defecation scores and satisfaction scores were maintained until 1 month later. There was no significant difference in the change of constipation scores between normal BMI and overweight group. 4.2% of the patients reported adverse effects, which were nausea, abdominal distension each.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

Background: In this study, the importance of constipation and back pain was assessed by regression analysis of the effects of stress, dietary habits, and water intake on constipation in women in their twenties and the influence of constipation and body mass index (BMI) To provide basic data. Methods: This study selected 109 having constipation of 120 students attending G University in Gwangju and eating habits, water intake level, stress and BMI. Trigger point at the tip of erector spina was palated with tenderness set in order to examine whether muscle tenderness and actual low back muscle tenderness level were same and left and right parts were measured three times and average of Max values was used. We examined the effect of constipation on low back pain and examined constipation and BMI to determine whether they affected low back pain. Results: There was no significant difference in eating habit although there was a significant difference in the effect of stress and water intake on constipation. Constipation had significant difference in back pain. However, there was no significant difference in BMI, normal weight, overweight, and obesity except for low body weight. Conclusions: This study found that constipation was associated with stress levels, water intake, and back pain. In conclusion, this study suggests basic data to prevent and treat constipation-related back pain, and recommends plenty of water intake, proper exercise and stress management to prevent constipation.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.637-645
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the occurrences and the factors contributing to constipation in the post surgical period following major orthopedic surgery. Methods: The sample included 133 patients who had surgery of the hip, knee, or spine. Patients were excluded from the study if there was a history of bowel surgery or constipation from chart review. Data were collected using questionnaires such as Korean version of Modified Barthel index (K-MBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) before surgery and on the third postoperative day. Results: Reports of constipation occurred in 77 instances (57.9%). The first reported defecation was within $4.0{\pm}2.2days$ following surgery. Mean days of first defecation of constipation group vs. non-constipation group was $5.5{\pm}1.7days$ vs. $2.1{\pm}1.0days$. There were statistically significant differences between patients who reported than those who did not in terms of age, length of NPO period, postoperative ADL, and the reported incidents of preoperative and postoperative depressive symptoms. Postoperative ADL, age, and NPO period were significant influencing factors of constipation and explained 52.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Constipation is a very common symptom for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. These results indicate a need for improving patient's ADL after surgery to prevent constipation.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.119-131
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• 2024

BIOVITA 3 bacterial species (BIOVITA 3), a probiotic blend powder containing Clostridium butyricum IDCC 1301, Weizmannia coagulans IDCC 1201, and Bacillus subtilis IDCC 1101, has been used as a food ingredient for gut health. However, its efficacy in improving constipation has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the functional effects of oral administration of BIOVITA 3 as well as its component strains alone (at 1.0×10⁹ CFU/day) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with loperamide-induced constipation. The study included fecal analysis, gastrointestinal transit ratio, histopathological analysis, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and metagenome analysis. As results, the BIOVITA 3 group showed significant improvements in fecal number, water content, gastrointestinal transit ratio, and thickening of the mucosal layer. In the SCFAs analysis, all probiotic-treated groups showed an increase in total SCFAs compared to the loperamide-constipated group. Changes in microbial abundance and the diversity index of three groups (normal, constipated, and BIOVITA 3) were also defined. Of these, the BIOVITA 3 showed a significant improvement in loperamide-constipated SD-rats. This study suggests the possibility that BIOVITA 3 can be applied as an ingredient in functional foods to relieve constipation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2024

Spinal cord infarction is one of the rare strokes with no clear signs of serious nerve damage or after-effects. This study reports on the effectiveness of a combined treatment of Korean medicine and acupuncture on bilateral paraplegia, dysuria, and constipation in a patient with sudden-onset spinal cord infarction. An 84-year-old male patient was diagnosed with spinal cord infarction in August 2022. After diagnosis by whole spine MRI, he received treatment for two months at another hospital, but the improvement was insignificant. He then received Korean medicine treatment, and during this period, his lower extremity manual muscle test grade improved from 3 to 4 and his modified Rivermead mobility index score increased by 13 points, compared with hospitalization. Dysuria improved with acupuncture, and constipation improved with herbal medicine treatment. A combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture can be used to treat paraplegia, dysuria, and constipation caused by spinal cord infarction.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.856-866
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between the prevalence of constipation and beverage intake. Research data were collected from first and second grade female students at Hyehwa High School in Seoul by means of questionnaires. A total of 190 questionnaires were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN program. The results are summarized as follows: The average body mass index (BMI) was 20.7. Of the students, 38.4% had a BMI of less than 20(underweight), and 15.8% had a BMI of over 23 (overweight). However, 84.7% of the students wanted to lose weight. To estimate the prevalence of constipation, five factors were used: frequency and regularity of defecation, time spent defecating, defecation difficulty, and feeling of residue after defecation. The percentage of the students who emptied their bowels every day was 22.1%. About 2/5 of the students (42.1%) had irregular defecation, and 15.2% spent more than 10 minutes in the rest room when defecating. The students who did not have difficulty defecating and those who did not have feelings of residue after defecating were only 24.7% and 28.9%, respectively. The amount of beverage intake per day was 1,062$m\ell$ 674$m\ell$ of water, 128$m\ell$ of milk, 88$m\ell$ of soft drinks, and 53$m\ell$ of fruit juice. The amount of beverage intake before breakfast, during breakfast, before lunch and during lunch was about 100 $m\ell$, each; before dinner, during dinner, and after dinner it was about 200$m\ell$, each. The amount of beverage intake during the weekend was 120$m\ell$ greater than on weekdays. Students who drank more beverages, especially water, before breakfast, showed a higher defecation frequency, more regular defecation, spent less time defecating, had less difficulty defecating, and had less feeling of residue after defecation, so that they have a better defecation pattern. Based on these results, increasing the amount of beverage consumption, especially of water, and drinking greater quantities of beverage before breakfast are ways to reduce constipation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2023

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a chronic and recurrent upper gastrointestinal symptom that has no organic cause. A 49-year-old male patient positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) visited the clinic because of FD and constipation. He received complex Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture and herbal medicines, from April 14 to July 18, 2022 (27 times) in the outpatient department. Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI), FD-related quality of life (FD-QoL), Euro QoL visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were used as evaluation tools in this study. Symptoms were relieved after 3 months of treatment, and his QoL improved (GSRS, 15-3; NDI, 110-21; FD-QoL, 52-20 [eating status, 10-3; liveliness status, 12-8; psychological, 1-0; role-functioning status, 18-9]; EQ-VAS, 40-65; NRS, 8-4). The results revealed that complex Korean medicine treatment could alleviate FD and constipation in patients with HIV.

• 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.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.167-177
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• 2017

Purpose: Breastfeeding is the best way to feed all infants, but not all infants can be (exclusively) breastfed. Cow's milk based infant formula is the second choice infant feeding. Methods: The safety of a new synbiotic infant formula, supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis and fructo-oligosaccharides, with lactose and a whey/casein 60/40 protein ratio was tested in 280 infants during 3 months. Results: The median age of the infants at inclusion was 0.89 months. Weight evolution was in accordance with the World Health Organization growth charts for exclusive breastfed infants. The evolution of all anthropometric parameters (weight-for-length z score and body mass index-for-age z score) was within the normal range. The incidence of functional constipation (3.2%), daily regurgitation (10.9%), infantile crying and colic (10.5%) were all significantly lower than the reported median prevalence for a similar age according to literature (median value of 7.8% for functional constipation, 26.7% for regurgitation, 17.7% for infantile colic). Conclusion: The new synbiotic infant starter formula was safe, resulted in normal growth and was well tolerated. Functional gastro-intestinal manifestations (functional constipation, regurgitation and colic) were significantly lower than reported in literature. Synbiotics (Bifidobacterium lactis and fructo-oligosaccharides) in cow's milk based infant formula bring the second choice infant feeding, formula, closer to the golden standard, exclusive breastfeeding.