HabitualGreenKiwifruitConsumptionIs AssociatedwithaReductioninUpper GastrointestinalSymptoms:ASystematicScoping Review

Abstract

Kiwifruithaveknownpositiveeffectsondigestion.Duringclinicalinterventiontrialsusingkiwifruittoimproveconstipation,uppergastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and pain, indigestion, and reflux were also alleviated. We aimed to evaluate the evidence for upper GI symptomrelief by kiwifruitinclinicaltrialson participantswithfunctionalconstipation(FC), irritablebowel syndromewithconstipation(IBS-C), andhealthyparticipants,andtoelucidatewhichsymptomsmayberelievedandwhetheradifferenceexistsbetweentheeffectsofgoldandgreen kiwifruit.Weexecutedasystematicscopingreviewof3electronicdatabasesfrom1947throughJanuary2021toidentifyclinicaltrialsthatreported effectsofgreenorgoldkiwifruitorkiwifruitcompoundsonupperGIsymptomsassecondaryoutcomesinhealthyparticipantsorparticipantswith FC or IBS-C. Studies were divided into those using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and those using alternative measurement tools. GSRS outcomes were pooled and statistically analyzed; non-GSRS outcomes were summarized. We identified 12 clinical trials with a total of 661 participants (124 controls,537 receiving intervention) providing evidence for symptom relief of upper GI symptoms by kiwifruit intake. Only 5 of the 12 clinical trials used the GSRS to assess upper GI symptom relief. We found good evidence that green kiwifruit may reduce abdominal discomfortandpain,andsomeevidencethatkiwifruitconsumptionmayattenuateindigestion.PooledGSRSoutcomeanalysisindicatesanaverage reductionof–0.85(95%CI:–1.1,–0.57;Z=6.1)inabdominalpainscoresand–0.33(95%CI:–0.52,–0.15;Z=–3.5)inindigestionscoreswithhabitual kiwifruit consumption. While the number of studies reporting on upper GI symptom relief with a comparable measurement is limited, there is consistentevidencefortheefficacyofkiwifruitonupperGIsymptomrelief