Effect of Fresh Dendrobe Juice Consumption on Senile Habitual Constipation for Older People: A Four-Week Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: In Chinese medicine, it is believed that fresh dendrobe juice, which is mild in nature, can relieve the symptom of constipation. Methods: A pilot research design was conducted. Fifty-six older people with senile habitual constipation were recruited and randomly enrolled into control or experimental groups, each with 28 people. The control group was offered water routinely in a day. In addition, the experimental group received 125 mL of dendrobe juice twice a day for four weeks. Quality of life for the old people was evaluated by the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) Score and the symptom of constipation was assessed by Wexner score. Results: The four-week intervention brought significant performance improvement in all the measured parameters in the experimental group in comparison with the control group. These included significantly more frequency and shorter durations of defecation (p < 0.01, respectively), improved quality of life based on constipation score (PAC-QOL) (experimental group: 50.41 ± 3.46 vs. control group: 70.25 ± 2.35; p < 0.05), and improved score on the Wexner constipation scale (experimental group: 6.56 ± 0.89 vs. control group: 15.50 ± 0.64; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Fresh dendrobe beverage therapy is effective in improving stool frequency, reducing duration of defecation, and enhancing quality of life.