Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 10, 2026 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
Medical News: Chronic constipation is a frustrating and often painful condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Many sufferers struggle with hard stools, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and the constant feeling that their bowels are never fully empty. Now, a new clinical study suggests that a natural fruit extract from sea buckthorn may offer safe and meaningful relief.
A daily sea buckthorn capsule significantly improved bowel movements and reduced constipation symptoms i
n a four-week clinical trial
Researchers from the University of Napoli Federico II in Italy, the University of Milano-Bicocca in Milan, Anaesthesia and Resuscitation A.U.O. Luigi Vanvitelli in Naples, the University of Management and Technology in Lahore, Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang, the University of Pavia, and Comegen S.C.S. in Naples have found that Hippophae rhamnoides L., commonly known as sea buckthorn, significantly improves bowel function in adults with chronic idiopathic constipation.
This
Medical News report highlights how a simple daily capsule produced measurable improvements within just four weeks.
What Is Chronic Idiopathic Constipation
Chronic idiopathic constipation is diagnosed when a person experiences fewer than three complete bowel movements per week, along with symptoms such as straining, hard stools, bloating, abdominal heaviness, or pain. “Idiopathic” means there is no clear medical cause, such as a tumor or intestinal disease.
Standard treatments often rely on laxatives. However, these may provide only temporary relief, and symptoms frequently return once medication is stopped. Some herbal laxatives have also raised safety concerns in Europe due to possible long-term risks.
How The Study Was Conducted
The researchers carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 90 adults. Participants were divided into two groups. One group received a daily capsule containing 500 mg of sea buckthorn fruit extract for 28 days. The other group received a placebo capsule that looked identical.
Before and after the four-week period, participants recorded how often they had spontaneous complete bowel movements, meaning natural bowel movements without the use of rescue laxatives. Stool consistency was measured using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, a medical tool that classifies stools from very hard to watery. Participants also rated symptoms like bloating, abdominal distension, heaviness, flatulence, and abdominal pain.
Remarkable Improvements in Bowel Frequency
At the start of the study, both groups averaged about 1.5 complete bowel movements per week. After four weeks, the sea buckthorn group increased to an average of 2.6 per week. The placebo group showed no change.
Stool consistency also improved dramatically. The treated group’s average Bristol score rose from 1.4, indicating very hard stools, to 3.5, which is considered closer to normal. Again, the place
bo group showed minimal change.
Relief From Bloating and Pain
Beyond frequency and stool form, participants taking the extract reported significant reductions in bloating, abdominal distension, heaviness, and abdominal pain. Flatulence increased slightly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between them.
Importantly, no adverse events were reported. No participants required rescue laxatives, and body weight and waist measurements remained stable. Quality-of-life scores did not change significantly overall, although there was a small trend toward improved mental well-being in the treated group.
Laboratory analysis of the extract revealed 75 bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, triterpenoids, and phospholipids. These natural substances are believed to support intestinal movement and improve water balance in the colon.
What This Means for Patients
The findings suggest that sea buckthorn fruit extract may provide a safe and effective alternative for individuals who struggle with chronic constipation and are dissatisfied with traditional laxatives. The improvements were statistically significant and occurred within just one month, without reported side effects. While larger and longer-term studies would help confirm these results, the current evidence indicates that this plant-based supplement could represent a promising and well-tolerated option for restoring more regular and comfortable bowel function in adults suffering from chronic idiopathic constipation.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Nutrients.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/5/806
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/diets-and-nutrition
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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