Table 3. Stool frequency and consistency evaluated by the Bristol stool scale within the 24 and 48 h following consumption of the dairy desserts containing 35 g dextrose or different mixtures of maltitol and scFOS in the ITT population (n=36).
| Control | Dextrose 24 scFOS 11 | Maltitol 35 | Maltitol 30 scFOS 5 | Maltitol 24 scFOS 11 | Maltitol 17.5 scFOS 17.5 | Dessert effect (P-value) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–24 h | Frequencya | 1.24±0.83 | 1.46±0.82 | 1.89±0.96b | 1.91±0.93b | 1.74±0.90b | 1.74±0.89b | 0.0006 |
| Consistencyc | 3.73±1.01 | 3.81±1.36 | 4.57±1.57b | 4.44±1.40b | 4.31±1.49b | 4.44±1.44b | 0.0045 | |
| 24–48 h | Frequency | 0.82±0.53 | 0.77±0.60 | 1.03±0.66 | 0.71±0.58 | 0.68±0.64 | 0.80±0.63 | 0.1373 |
| Consistency | 3.46±0.87 | 3.63±1.38 | 3.93±1.35 | 3.64±1.14 | 3.481.19 | 3.42±1.36 | 0.5420 |
Abbreviations: ITT, intention to treat; scFOS, short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides.
Data is expressed in mean±s.d.
a
Number of bowel movements per 24 h.
b
Significant increase (Dunnett's test) in gastrointestinal symptoms scores compared with 35 g dextrose, P<0.05. Other observed differences (Tukey's test) for stool frequency at 24 h: maltitol 35 vs dextrose 24–scFOS 11 (P=0.0154); maltitol 30–scFOS 5 vs dextrose 24–scFOS 11 (P=0.0069); for stool consistency at 24 h maltitol 35 (P=0.0023), maltitol 30–scFOS 5 (P=0.0137), maltitol 24–scFOS 11 (P=0.0374) and maltitol 17.5–scFOS 17.5 (P=0.0085) vs dextrose 24–scFOS 11.
c
Consistency score from Bristol scale (1: separate hard lumps to 7: watery, entirely liquid).