07 May DDW25: Study Finds Adding Dried Fruit to Diet Reduces Constipation
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Steenson
Dr. Simon Steenson PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Nutritional Sciences
King’s College London
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Chronic constipation is something that can be embarrassing, but it affects 1 in 10 people globally. It has a big impact on people’s quality of life and treating constipation has substantial costs for the healthcare system. Dried fruits are recommended for managing constipation, but there are very few studies that have actually tested whether following this advice is helpful. To fill this gap in our knowledge, we completed the largest clinical trial to date to see whether dried fruits and fruit juices could benefit constipation symptoms.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: We included 150 people with constipation, who were given 90 grams (or about 3 ounces) of dried fruit, fruit juices, or a sugar-syrup placebo daily for 4 weeks. People who ate dried fruit had more complete bowel movements than those taking the placebo and the weight of their stools increased significantly. They also reported a higher level of treatment satisfaction, without any significant side effects. We also found that drinking fruit juices (plum, grape, and apricot) three times per day for 4 weeks helped increase the number of spontaneous bowel movements and the water content of stools.
MedicalResearch.com: How much dried fruit is recommended? Can too much be a problem ie for weight or glucose control?
Response: Dietary recommendations in the US include advice to have about half a cup of dried fruit per day, which is the same as the amount we gave in this study. However, about 80% of the US population doesn’t meet the recommendations for fruit. So, finding ways to get more dried fruit into your diet could be useful if you are suffering from constipation.
It’s true that dried fruit does contain quite a lot of sugar, but this is contained within the cells of the fruit and so it takes time for our bodies to breakdown and release this sugar. So, it is less of a concern than the sugar in sodas and is unlikely to be an issue for our calorie intake or blood glucose.
Dried fruit also contains fibre – an important nutrient for people with constipation – and other essential vitamins and minerals, so it can be a great addition to the diet. For example, it can be sprinkled on breakfast cereal or taken with you as a snack on the go. You could even try making your own trail mix with seeds. However, dried fruit can easily get stuck in your teeth, and so it’s a good idea to try and have this in or around mealtimes, and to make sure to brush teeth afterwards.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Our study is the largest clinical trial to show that eating dried fruit benefits people living with constipation. Our findings provide key evidence to support advice to include dried fruits in the diet as part of a lifestyle approach to managing constipation symptoms. It also supports the general advice to include dried fruit as part of an overall healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: Although we did see a benefit from consuming dried fruit, because this was a mixture of dried prunes, apricots, and raisins, it is not possible to say which type of dried fruit may be most effective for managing constipation symptoms. It would also be helpful to conduct a longer trial to see how incorporating dried fruit into the diet in the long term may help people living with constipation.
Dislosures: This trial was supported by a grant from the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), although the funder had no role in the study design, conduct, or data collection and analysis. The authors declare no relevant competing interests.
Citation:
Dried fruit increases stool weight and stool frequency in chronic constipation: A randomised, placebo-controlled, food intervention trial
More information:
- GutsUK: https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/symptoms/constipation/
- MedlinePlus: https://medlineplus.gov/constipation.html
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Last Updated on May 7, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD
