 |
|
Chewing gum associated with enhanced bowel recovery after colon surgery
August 19, 2008Chewing gum is associated with enhanced recovery of intestinal function following surgery to remove all or part of the colon, according to an analysis of previously published studies in the August issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
"Postoperative ileus [inability of the intestines to pass contents] is regarded as an inevitable response to the trauma of abdominal surgery and is a major contributing factor to postoperative pain and discomfort associated with abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting and cramping pain," the authors write as background information in the article. The problem is estimated to cost approximately $1 billion in U.S. health care expenditures.
Sanjay Purkayastha, B.Sc., M.R.C.S., and colleagues at St. Mary's Hospital, London, analyzed data from five trials published in or before July 2006 and involving 158 patients. In each trial, a group of patients chewed sugarless gum three times per day following surgery for a period of five to 45 minutes and were compared with patients who did not chew gum.
When the trial results were combined, patients who chewed gum took an average of .66 fewer days to pass flatus (gas) and an average of 1.10 fewer days to have a bowel movement, both signs of returning intestinal function. "Postoperative length of hospital stay was assessed in four trials comprising 134 patients," the authors write. "This was also reduced in the chewing gum group by longer than one day; however, this result was not statistically significant."
Gum chewing is thought to act as a kind of "sham feeding," stimulating nerves in the digestive system, triggering the release of gastrointestinal hormones and increasing the production of saliva and secretions from the pancreas, the authors note.
"In conclusion, we feel that the current evidence suggests that gum chewing following abdominal surgery offers significant benefits in reducing the time to resolution of ileus; however, the studies are insufficiently powered to identify a significant benefit in length of stay," they write. "The potential benefits to individual patients, in health economics terms, are such that a well-designed, large-scale, blinded, randomized, controlled trial with a placebo arm is warranted to answer the question of whether gum chewing can significantly reduce the length of stay after abdominal surgery or whether it merely represents a placebo effect."
JAMA and Archives Journals
When the trial results were combined, patients who chewed gum took an average of .66 fewer days to pass flatus (gas) and an average of 1.10 fewer days to have a bowel movement, both signs of returning intestinal function. "Postoperative length of hospital stay was assessed in four trials comprising 134 patients," the authors write. "This was also reduced in the chewing gum group by longer than one day; however, this result was not statistically significant."
Gum chewing is thought to act as a kind of "sham feeding," stimulating nerves in the digestive system, triggering the release of gastrointestinal hormones and increasing the production of saliva and secretions from the pancreas, the authors note.
"In conclusion, we feel that the current evidence suggests that gum chewing following abdominal surgery offers significant benefits in reducing the time to resolution of ileus; however, the studies are insufficiently powered to identify a significant benefit in length of stay," they write. "The potential benefits to individual patients, in health economics terms, are such that a well-designed, large-scale, blinded, randomized, controlled trial with a placebo arm is warranted to answer the question of whether gum chewing can significantly reduce the length of stay after abdominal surgery or whether it merely represents a placebo effect."
JAMA and Archives Journals
Chewing Gum Current Events and Chewing Gum News RSSGummy bears that fight plaque
The tooth-protecting sugar substitute xylitol has been incorporated into gummy bears to produce a sweet snack that may prevent dental problems.
Topical oral syrup prevents early childhood caries
Dental researchers at the University of Washington have reported a significant reduction of tooth decay in toddlers who were treated with the topical syrup xylitol, a naturally occurring non-cavity-causing sweetener.
Chewing gum -- the new post-operative medicine
In an article recently recommended by Bradley Kropp of Faculty of 1000 Medicine, researchers find chewing gum is a simple solution to the recovery of bowel function after gastrointestinal surgery - a problem that has troubled patients and physicians for decades.
Warning over severe weight loss caused by chewing gum
In this week's BMJ, doctors warn of excess sorbitol intake, a widely used sweetener in "sugar-free" products such as chewing gum and sweets.
Chewing gum may help reduce cravings and control appetite
A research study to be presented at the 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, found that chewing gum before an afternoon snack helped reduce hunger, diminish cravings and promote fullness among individuals who limit their overall calorie intake.
Nonstick chewing gum to become a reality
Easy-to-remove chewing gum is to become a reality, thanks to a major technological break-through. The announcement will be made this week at the BA Festival of Science in York.
Instant steam takes on MRSA
A method for making instant steam, without the need for electricity, promises to be useful for tackling antibiotic resistant 'superbugs' like MRSA and C. difficile, as well as removing chewing gum from pavements and powering environmentally friendly cars, reports Nina Morgan in Chemistry & Industry, the magazine of the SCI.
Xylitol reduces risk of cavities
The sugar substitute xylitol affects the bacterial composition of the oral cavity even in low doses. On the other hand, a relatively high intake is needed to counteract the production of acid between the teeth.
UD scientists discover new class of polymers
For years, polymer chemistry textbooks have stated that a whole class of little molecules called 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes could not be transformed into polymers-the stuff of which plastics and other materials are made.
Cysteine containing chewing gum for the prevention of upper digestive tract cancers?
Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, suggest that cysteine containing tablets and chewing gum can be a new way for the prevention of upper digestive tract cancers.
More Chewing Gum Current Events and Chewing Gum News Articles
 | Chewing Gum: The Fortunes of Taste by Michae Redclift Not long after the Civil War, three-time Mexican president and Alamo victor General Santa Ana introduced chicle--a rare ingredient from Mexico that was the basis for what would become chewing gum--to a Staten Island inventor. Both were down on their luck, and little did they know that their chance meeting would help create an icon of the modern age. A functionally useless product that simply... |
 | The Gum-Chewing Rattler by Joe Hayes Kids always want Joe Hayes to tell The Gum-Chewing Rattler. And why not? It combines so many things kids love to do-chew bubble gum, tell tall tales, and drive their moms crazy-with the wild, impossible claim that a rattlesnake chewed gum and blew a bubble with it!You see, when Joe was a boy, that's what he told his mother-that bubble gum saved him from a rattlesnake's fangs! Really! Don't... |
 | Chewing Gum in Holy Water: A Childhood in the Heart of Italy by Mario Valentini, Cheryl Hardacre |
 | Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas, From the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley by Jennifer P. Mathews Although Juicy Fruit® gum was introduced to North Americans in 1893, Native Americans in Mesoamerica were chewing gum thousands of years earlier. And although in the last decade “biographies” have been devoted to salt, spices, chocolate, coffee, and other staples of modern life, until now there has never been a full history of chewing gum.Chicle is a history in four acts, all of them focused... |
| Thar' she blows.(history of chewing gum dates as far back as 50 A.D.): An article from: Food Processing by Diane Toops This digital document is an article from Food Processing, published by Putman Media, Inc. on November 1, 2000. The length of the article is 988 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle:... | |
 | Bubblemania: A Chewy History of Bubble Gum by Lee Wardlaw Here's a fact-filled, funny, and informative book that contains everything kids--and grown-ups--would ever want to know about the $500 million industry that is bubble gum. From the gum the Native Americans chewed to bubble gum's role in American history and the lowdown on the newest trends and brands, Bubblemania presents a fascinating compendium of bubble gum... |
 | The Gum on the Drum (Start to Read! Library Edition Series) by Barbara Gregorich Start to Read! Books are the most entertaining, satisfying, and educational beginning readers you will find anywhere. The three reading levels in the series make it easy for your child to learn to read at a relaxed and enjoyable pace. Each book your child reads helps build confidence and a sense of... |
 | Chewing Gum's Wrapping Paper Collection |
| Chewing-gum Rescue and Other Stories by Margaret Mahy This fully illustrated volume contains 11 humorous stories by the winner of the Carnegie Medal, featuring tales of dragons, princesses, dreams, magic and the totally... | |
 | William Wrigley, Jr. and the Founder of Wrigley's Chewing Gum (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).) by M. C. Hall This work tells the story of famous businesspeople and inventors by introducing evidence that survives from the era in which the person lived. This work: uses primary source materials to explain how we know about the person's life and how we can learn about events in the past; can be used in the Literacy Hour as examples of biological recount; and, supports the learning strands "study the lives... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |