Intestinal transit time in constipated and non-constipated geriatric patients.

Intestinal transit was measured by following a radioisotope capsule through the gut. The transit in 16 elderly patients with chronic constipation was compared with that in 16 patients of the same age and with 10 healthy younger people without constipation. Although the constipated patients generally had a slower total transit time through the gut, some old and young people without constipation also showed a slow total transit.

A study on liquid diet in geriatric patients.

The intake of energy and nutrients was studied during 16 days in nine geriatrics immobilized patients who had received a conventional liquid diet for an extended period of time. The intake of energy averaged only 870 kcal/24 h. Fat intake was very low, averaging 16 g/24 h, which corresponds to 17 per cent of the total energy intake.

Transit time in constipated geriatric patients during treatment with a bulk laxative and bran: a comparison.

Transit time, as estimated from the passage through the gut of an isotope (131I)-containing capsule, was studied in 10 constipated, geriatric in-patients on a bulk laxative regimen and during treatment with wheat bran. The patients received a conventional bulk laxative (Vi-Siblin, 6 g twice daily) during a period of 8 weeks. The bulk laxative was then replaced by bran (10 g twice daily) during the following 8-week period.