Table 3.

Profile analysis of constipation parameters in subjects who received diet supplements

Variable	Before	Day 14	Day 28	F-value		P-value
Hardness of stool*				G	5.30	0.024
Con	1.89 ± 1.32	0.78 ± 1.14	1.00 ± 1.30	T	19.93	0.001
VP	1.97 ± 1.32	1.33 ± 0.88‖	1.56 ± 0.88‖	G*T	1.85	0.164
Amount of stool†				G	29.79	0.001
Con	1.41 ± 0.65	1.45 ± 0.72	1.51 ± 0.76	T	7.96	0.010
VP	1.76 ± 0.64‖	2.00 ± 0.55‖	2.28 ± 0.62‖	G*T	3.72	0.027
Sensation of incomplete evacuation‡				G	8.14	0.005
Con	3.42 ± 1.16	3.73 ± 0.87	3.85 ± 1.10	T	44.15	0.001
VP	2.86 ± 0.86‖	4.46 ± 0.66‖	4.63 ± 0.50‖	G*T	17.95	0.001
Straining to defecate§				G	43.41	0.001
Con	3.17 ± 1.25	2.93 ± 1.34	2.97 ± 1.20	T	8.94	0.001
VP	3.14 ± 1.26	4.24 ± 0.68‖	4.57 ± 0.56‖	G*T	16.82	0.001

Values are mean ± standard deviation. Con, Rice Flakes-Powder (n = 51); VP, Vege-Powder (n = 45); G, group; T, time; G*T, group and time interaction.

^*The rating scale from 1 to 5 is denoted as: 1 (watery), 2 (mushy), 3 (soft), 4 (hard), 5 (very hard).

^†The rating scale from 1 to 5 is denoted as: 1 (< 35 g), 2 (35–80 g), 3 (80–200 g), 4 (200–300 g), 5 (> 300 g).

^‡,§The rating scale from 1 to 5 is denoted as: 1 (extremely severe), 2 (severe), 3 (moderate), 4 (weak), 5 (very weak).

^‖Significantly different from control group (P < 0.05).