Table 3

Clinical efficacy of SF versus NF after period 1


SF (n = 15)
NF (n = 20)
Difference of means (95% CI)*
RR (95% CI)**
P-value

Defecation frequency (mean ± SD)
4.9 ± 2.5
5.6 ± 2.8
0.7 (-0.8–2.3)

0.36
Improvement of hard to soft stools (n)
50% (5/10)
90% (9/10)

1.8 (0.9–3.5)
0.14
No painful defecation (n)
33% (5/15)
35% (7/20)

1.0 (0.4–2.7)
0.92
No abdominal or rectal mass (n)
93% (14/15)
90% (18/20)

1.0 (0.8–1.2)
0.73

* ANCOVA; ** χ2 tests

Bongers et al. Nutrition Journal 2007 6:8   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-6-8

Open Data