Effect of Drinking Fermented Milk on the Improvement of Defecation in Constipated Female Students

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect d concentrated fermented milk on the improvement of defecation in female students with constipation. This yogurt was fermented with Bifidobacterium, L. acidophilus, and S. thermophilus and supplemented with oligosaccharides, dietary fiber, and yeast and mushroom extracts. 44 female students with constipation were sampled as subjects and fed 150ml fermented milk per day for 2 weeks period. After each defecation, the subjects were examined for the status of stool evacuation by questionnaires. The frequency of stool evacuation, fecal amount, time spending for evacuation, fecal color and shape, and refreshing feeling after evacuation were remarkably improved after ingestion of fermented milk for 2 weeks. These effects were greater in the heavy constipation group than in the mild group. The fecal odor did rot decrease significantly after 2 weeks of intake of fermented milk, but the odor thended to decrease after the intake of fermented milk These results indicated that the ingestion of concentrated fermented milk is effective to improve the constipation.