Table 2.
The fecal defecation characteristics
| Category | Group | Baseline (B) | Intake period (I) | Δ (I) − (B) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defecation frequency (times/week) | T0 (n = 19) | 6.82 ± 3.94 | 6.66 ± 3.28 | −0.16 ± 2.11 |
| T3 (n = 15) | 6.07 ± 3.40 | 6.62 ± 3.09 | 0.55 ± 1.26 | |
| T5 (n = 17) | 5.35 ± 2.12 | 6.50 ± 2.70## | 1.15 ± 1.32* | |
| Defecation episode (days/week) | T0 (n = 19) | 4.76 ± 1.65 | 5.08 ± 1.52 | 0.32 ± 1.07 |
| T3 (n = 15) | 5.00 ± 1.66 | 5.43 ± 1.24 | 0.43 ± 0.93 | |
| T5 (n = 17) | 4.79 ± 1.44 | 5.38 ± 1.41# | 0.58 ± 0.88 | |
| Amount | T0 (n = 19) | 2.03 ± 0.63 | 2.13 ± 0.65 | 0.10 ± 0.57 |
| T3 (n = 15) | 2.32 ± 0.95 | 2.23 ± 0.84 | −0.09 ± 0.49 | |
| T5 (n = 17) | 2.37 ± 1.08 | 2.55 ± 1.15 | 0.18 ± 0.44 | |
| Shape | T0 (n = 19) | 3.27 ± 1.08 | 3.34 ± 0.74 | 0.07 ± 0.67 |
| T3 (n = 15) | 3.75 ± 0.91 | 3.59 ± 0.76 | −0.16 ± 0.74 | |
| T5 (n = 17) | 3.63 ± 0.92 | 3.86 ± 0.58 | 0.23 ± 0.66 | |
| Smell | T0 (n = 19) | 3.15 ± 0.65 | 3.03 ± 0.61 | −0.12 ± 0.44 |
| T3 (n = 15) | 3.05 ± 0.57 | 2.80 ± 0.63# | −0.25 ± 0.32 | |
| T5 (n = 17) | 3.19 ± 0.54 | 2.98 ± 0.49 | −0.21 ± 0.51 | |
| Excretory feeling | T0 (n = 19) | 1.90 ± 0.60 | 1.74 ± 0.51 | −0.16 ± 0.40 |
| T3 (n = 15) | 1.77 ± 0.49 | 1.67 ± 0.33 | −0.10 ± 0.37 | |
| T5 (n = 17) | 1.76 ± 0.59 | 1.38 ± 0.35*,# | −0.39 ± 0.63 |
Data are represented as Mean ± SD. T0, Placebo; T3, PHGG 3 g/day; T5, PHGG 5 g/day. Between-group comparison with placebo: *p<0.05. Within-group comparison with baseline: ##p<0.01, #p<0.05. B, at baseline (day −14 to day 0). I, Intake period (day 0 to day 56).