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Table 5 Effects of consuming the soluble cocoa products were studied using a subjective bowel function questionnaire (Mean values and standard error of mean (SEM), n = 44)

From: Effects of regularly consuming dietary fibre rich soluble cocoa products on bowel habits in healthy subjects: a free-living, two-stage, randomized, crossover, single-blind intervention

 

Feel bowel completely empty

Have BM once per day

Pass gas during day

Have crampy abdominal pain

Have haemorrhoid problems

Stage

Mean

SEM

Mean

SEM

Mean

SEM

Mean

SEM

Mean

SEM

Non-cocoa

2.67

0.10

2.93a

0.10

2.14

0.09

1.20

0.08

0.39

0.06

Cocoa product A

2.73

0.11

3.09a

0.13

2.07

0.15

1.09

0.11

0.32

0.08

Cocoa product B

2.75

0.12

3.27a

0.11

2.32

0.14

1.27

0.12

0.34

0.09

 

N.S.

p = 0.009

N.S.

N.S.

N.S.

  1. BM, bowel movement. A 4-point scale was used to answer where 0 = never, 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = frequently and 4 = always.
  2. Effects were evaluated using a generalized estimating equations with repeated measures (stage) and one fixed factor (cocoa product) were applied. Where there was a significant main effect, post hoc Bonferroni tests were also used to analyse differences between means.