Effect of Kiwifruit on Gastrointestinal Fluid Distribution and Transit in Healthy Volunteers

Constipation is a widespread and common problem in which a person finds it difficult and/or painful to open their bowels. The current treatment is the use of medications called laxatives. Kiwifruit is a widely available food that has been shown to possess some laxative properties. The cause of this is unknown. Non-invasive medical imaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging now allow taking pictures of the gut and its contents. The Nottingham GI MRI research group specialises in these techniques and in this study use such images to assess the changes induced in the gut contents by kiwifruit to improve understanding of how it helps patients with constipation. The volunteers will be asked to undergo 2 studies in which they take either kiwifruit or placebo (sugary drink) two times a day for 2 days and then spend a study day where will they will be fed some more kiwifruit/placebo and some normal food and image their gut at intervals. Participants will be asked to complete a stool diary to determine if they experience a laxative effect.