Effects of Maltobionic Acid on Bowel Movement in Healthy Japanese Adult Women with Mild Constipation―A Randomized Double—blind Placebo—controlled Crossover Study―

Background/Objective　This study investigated the effects of maltobionic acid （maltobionic acid syrup）ingestion on bowel movement in healthy Japanese adult women with mild constipation. Methods　This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Twenty healthy Japanese adult women with mild constipation were categorized into three groups: MB syrup 4 g group maltobionic acid syrup 4 g）, MB syrup 2 g group（maltobionic acid syrup 2 g, maltose syrup 2 g）, and Placebo group（maltose syrup 4 g）. Defecation days, stool volume, Constipation Assessment Scale Middle Term version（CAS-MT）, and Bristol stool scale were used to assess the efficacy of the intervention in terms of improving bowel movements. Results　No dropouts or adherence violations occurred during the intervention period, and all 20 subjects completed the study. Compared to placebo intake, continuous ingestion of≥2 g of maltobionic acid syrup（equivalent to≥0.8 g of maltobionic acid）significantly improved bowel movement indicators defecation days, fecal amount, CAS score, and Bristol stool scale score, confirming the efficacy of the intervention. Conclusions　Maltobionic acid is known to be rarely absorbed in the small intestine, reached the large intestine and used by intestinal bacteria which produces short-chain fatty acids and organic acids. As a result, these metabolites were considered to have contributed to the improvement of various defecation indicators by activating intestinal peristalsis.（UMIN-CTRID: 000039225）