Kiwifruit, psyllium fibre and prunes all significantly improve constipation symptoms, but kiwifruit has the fewest side effects and is most liked by patients, US researchers report.

This study “confirms the benefits of psyllium and prunes for the treatment of chronic constipation (and) shows that two green kiwifruit can also be effective for the treatment of constipation,” says lead author, Dr Shanti Eswaran of the University of Michigan.

Psyllium and prunes are proven treatments for chronic constipation, Dr Eswaran and her colleagues note in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

But while kiwifruit is a popular digestive aid in Asia, there remains a “relative paucity of comparative literature describing its impact on bowel habits and effectiveness as a treatment in patients with (chronic constipation)”, the authors write.