Longevity & AgingFirst Evidence-Based Dietary Guidelines for Chronic Constipation Released
The British Dietetic Association has published the first comprehensive evidence-based dietary guidelines for managing chronic constipation in adults. Developed through four systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering 75 randomized controlled trials, the guidelines used the GRADE methodology and a Delphi consensus process among a multidisciplinary expert panel. Fifty-nine recommendation statements were produced covering dietary supplements (fiber, probiotics, synbiotics, magnesium oxide, senna, kiwifruit supplements), specific foods (kiwifruit, prunes, rye bread), and drinks (high-mineral water). Psyllium fiber and certain probiotic strains received the strongest evidence base. Notably, no recommendations were made for whole-diet approaches such as a high-fiber diet due to insufficient evidence from RCTs.
