Prebiotic UG1601 mitigates constipation-related events in association with gut microbiota: A randomized placebo-controlled intervention study

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of study participants at baseline

Variable	Placebo (n = 20)	Prebiotics (n = 20)	P value
Age, median (range)	25 (22-51)	24 (21-27)	0.032
Gender, n (%)			0.642
Male	5 (25)	5 (25)
Female	15 (75)	15 (75)
Stool frequency, median (range)	3.5 (2.5-6)	3 (2.5-5.5)	0.014
Body weight, kg	57.49 ± 2.10	61.34 ± 2.69	0.266
Height, cm	165.43 ± 1.70	163.71 ± 1.29	0.422
Body mass index, kg/m2	20.93 ± 0.53	22.78 ± 0.81	0.063

Data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean. P value was calculated using the Student’s t-test.

Table 2 Stool frequency score of 40 mildly constipated subjects treated with either placebo or prebiotics at baseline and 4 wk of intervention

Time point	Placebo (n = 20)	Prebiotics (n = 20)	P value1
Baseline	2.47 ± 0.22	2.35 ± 0.18	0.667
Week 4	4.11 ± 0.21	4.10 ± 0.25	0.174
P value2	0.002	< 0.001
Change of score	1.55 ± 0.33	1.75 ± 0.22	0.620

¹Calculated using the Student’s t-test (between groups).

²Calculated using paired t-test (within a group). Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean. Change in score was calculated by subtracting the values at week 4 from those at baseline.

Table 3 Changes in the abdominal and fecal symptoms of 40 mildly constipated subjects after 4 wk of intervention, based on self-reporting

Symptoms	Placebo (n = 20)	Prebiotics (n = 20)	P value
Stool consistency, n (%)
Improved	5 (25)	7 (35)	0.185
Unchanged	12 (60)	13 (65)
Worsened	3 (15)	-
Incomplete evacuation, n (%)
Improved	9 (45)	8 (40)	0.538
Unchanged	10 (50)	12 (60)
Worsened	1 (5)	-
Time required for evacuation, n (%)
Shorten	3 (15)	7 (35)	0.137
Same	17 (85)	13 (65)
Flatulence, n (%)
Yes	5 (25)	4 (20)	0.500
No	15 (75)	16 (80)

P value was calculated using Chi-square test.