PP397 - KIWIFRUIT INGESTION TO NORMALISE GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS (KINGS): A MULTICENTRE CLINICAL TRIAL WITH MECHANISTIC OUTCOMES

PP397

KIWIFRUIT INGESTION TO NORMALISE GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS (KINGS): A MULTICENTRE CLINICAL TRIAL WITH MECHANISTIC OUTCOMES

S. B. Bayer^1,*, M. Barnett², H. M. Ng³, J. Maggo¹, R. B. Gearry¹

¹Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, ²AgResearch, Auckland, ³Nutrition and Dietetics, One Health New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand

Rationale: Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and functional constipation (FC) are common disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) with limited treatment options. Green kiwifruit has known laxative effects. The trial investigated if two green kiwifruit daily reduces abdominal pain in adults with IBS-C/FC and explored underlying physiological mechanisms.

Methods: Two parallel arms were conducted. In Christchurch, 60 adults with IBS-C/FC were randomised to two green kiwifruit or calorie-matched maltodextrin daily for four weeks and underwent colonic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In Auckland, 16 adults with IBS-C/FC and 16 healthy controls received kiwifruit daily for four weeks and underwent Body Surface Gastric Mapping (BSGM). The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) abdominal pain subscale was the primary outcome. Data were analysed using nonparametric t-tests.

Results: Kiwifruit produced a significantly greater reduction in abdominal pain in the IBS-C subgroup versus maltodextrin (−0.86 vs −0.17; p=0.024; n=17), while the effect was masked in the combined IBS-C/FC population (−0.48 vs −0.33; p=0.48; n=52). MRI demonstrated significantly lower T1 relaxation time with kiwifruit, indicating higher colonic water content. In Auckland, the symptomatic group showed a significant between-group reduction in abdominal pain (−0.25 vs 0.04; p=0.015; n=38). Gastric mapping identified no intervention effect but revealed a distinct electrophysiological pattern in DGBI participants at baseline.

Conclusion: Green kiwifruit significantly reduced abdominal pain in IBS-C, with MRI evidence of increased colonic hydration as a plausible mechanism. Gastric mapping revealed a DGBI-specific electrophysiological signature independent of intervention, supporting kiwifruit as a targeted dietary intervention for IBS-C related pain.

Disclosure of Interest: S. Bayer Other: Received an honorarium to present data at Zespri headquarters, M. Barnett: None declared, H. Ng: None declared, J. Maggo: None declared, R. Gearry: None declared