EFFECT OF CHEESE ON INTESTINAL TRANSIT-TIME AND OTHER INDICATORS OF BOWEL FUNCTION IN RESIDENTS OF A RETIREMENT HOME

Effects of increased intake of cheese on intestinal transit time and o ther indicators of bowel function were studied in 21 retirement home r esidents (18 women and 3 men; age, 68-87 years). The study was divided into four succeeding periods: 1) 1-week basal period (usual diet); 2) 3-week cheese period (extra cheese was offered as such on bread or us ed in cooking); 3) 3-week no-cheese period (all cheese on bread was re placed with cured meats and cold cuts, and no cheese was used in cooki ng); 4) 3-week follow-up period (usual diet). During the last week of each period a questionnaire was filled out on fecal frequencies, consi stency of feces (soft, normal, hard), and occurrence of abdominal pain and flatulence. Use of laxative medications and therapeutic foods (pr unes) was registered. Eleven of the 21 subjects collected fecal sample s for the determination of fecal wet weight and intestinal transit tim e by means of radiopaque Sitzmark capsules. Intakes of cheese, fiber-c ontaining foods, and fluids by these 11 subjects during meals offered in the cafeteria were recorded on a prefilled questionnaire. In spite of a 10-fold increase in the intake of cheese no change in intestinal transit time, fecal frequency, fecal wet weight, consistency of feces, and occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms was observed. The use of laxative medication was higher during the cheese period, but no change in the combined use of laxative medication and therapeutic foods (pru nes) was observed. The data were analyzed separately for 7 of the 21 s ubjects not using any laxative treatment, and no differences between t he study periods were observed. The results of the present study do no t support the practice that cheese should be avoided as a means of pre venting constipation.