Table 2.

Changes of bowel movements and stool characteristics during the intervention period

	Intervention	n	Week 1	Week 5	Week 5 - Week 1
No. of bowel movements (times/w)	Fucoidan intake	27	7.78 ± 4.64**	9.15 ± 5.03**	+1.37 ± 1.86*
	Placebo intake	26	6.89 ± 2.69	7.23 ± 3.00	+0.20 ± 1.61*
Stool hardness (grades 1–6)	Fucoidan intake	27	3.15 ± 0.94	3.24 ± 0.72	+0.24 ± 0.81
	Placebo intake	25	3.30 ± 0.86	3.20 ± 0.99	+0.08 ± 0.78
Stool color (grades 1–7)	Fucoidan intake	26	3.13 ± 1.28	3.15 ± 1.02	-0.19 ± 1.18
	Placebo intake	26	3.20 ± 0.97	3.07 ± 1.05	-0.30 ± 0.63

*: P < 0.05, **: P < 0.005

The number of bowel movements per week is shown, and stool hardness and color are the mean results for 1 week.