Chronic Constipation Relief


Chronic constipation is characterized as a condition where bowel movements are unsatisfactory (i.e. incomplete, infrequent, or hard to pass for at least 12 weeks). Finding constipation relief usually starts with dietary and lifestyle changes, but often these are not enough to treat chronic constipation. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the connection between fiber, water, and magnesium intake for constipation treatment that should be of interest to those with constipation.


Subjects and Methods of the Study


The basis of the study were self-administered questionnaires that were distributed to 3,835 female Japanese students. Two questionnaires were distributed about current dietary and other lifestyle habits, while a third one was concerned with the subjects’ habits for the previous 6 years. The questionnaire contained several categories including ways of cooking, certain foods and beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), frequency of the consumption of typical foods such as rice, miso soup, etc. A custom algorithm was used to calculate the fiber (soluble and insoluble), water, and magnesium intake of the students based on the survey. These calculations were used to determine how dietary habits affected chronic constipation.


Constipation Questionnaire


In order to evaluate if the subjects suffered from constipation, the study used the following parameters:


  • Straining during bowel movements – this indicates that peristalsis is not sufficient and the subject requires extra ‘push’ to have a bowel movement. Usually, a lack of certain nutrients (such as Vitamin B5) or sedentary lifestyle can bring on this condition and cause chronic constipation.

  • Incomplete bowel movements – this is one of the most uncomfortable symptoms of constipation. Laxatives cannot always provide comfortable constipation relief for this feeling because they often make the stool too liquid.

  • Hard stools – this symptom can be caused by dehydration or magnesium deficiency. Magnesium helps bring water into the colon to hydrate the stool, so without either enough water or magnesium, constipation could result.

  • Frequency of bowel movements – different opinions have been shared about this characteristic of constipation, but the general agreement is that people should have at least 3 bowel movements a week, with 1 a day the preferred recommendation.

    • Each of the above parameters could be caused by nutritional deficiencies that are hard to eliminate without supplements. This is because our modern diet typically contains insufficient amounts of these nutrients.


    Conclusion - Constipation & Dietary Habits


    The study concluded that dietary fiber was not associated with constipation. Also, intake of water from fluids was not associated with constipation, while low intake of water from foods appeared to have an effect on chronic constipation. Magnesium intake from foods also had an effect on the women and their tendency towards constipation. The key to finding chronic constipation relief is to include a combination of nutrients through supplementation (if not possible through the normal diet) that will support the healthy function of the colon.