Treatment of chronic constipation with lactitol sweetened yoghurt supplemented with guar gum and wheat bran in elderly hospital in-patients.

The faecal output of 33 elderly hospitalized patients was followed daily for 4 weeks. After an observation period of 1 week 18 patients received during the following 2 weeks a 150 ml portion of yoghurt containing lactitol, guar gum and wheat bran (fibre yoghurt group) twice daily. Fifteen control patients received the same volume of yoghurt without lactitol, guar gum or wheat bran (control yoghurt group). The study design was randomized double-blind. The mean faecal output increased 1.6-fold in patients receiving fibre yoghurt, while the corresponding value for control patients was 1.2 (p less than 0.05). About 50% of the fibre yoghurt group and 25% of the controls considered the treatment effective. Some in the fibre yoghurt group experienced meteorism and loose stools. No significant changes were observed in blood glucose, serum cholesterol or triglyceride values, body weights or faecal pH values in either group.