Annals of Coloproctology

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Original Article

Complications

Effects of prune consumption on the incidence of low anterior resection syndrome: a randomized controlled trial: Dae Hee Pyo, Jung Kyong Shin, Jung Wook Huh, Hee Cheol Kim, Seong Hyeon Yun, Woo Yong Lee, Yoonah Park, Yong Beom Cho; Ann Coloproctol. 2025;41(6):510-518. Published online December 12, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2025.00514.0073

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Purpose
Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is common and devastating complication for patients with rectal cancer who have undergone sphincter-sparing surgery. Prunes are a fiber-rich fruit being effective in treating chronic constipation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prune consumption on the incidence of LARS.
Methods
A prospective, double-arm, parallel, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted from September 2019 to March 2021 at a single tertiary center for patients who underwent low anterior resection. Patients randomized to the prune group consumed prune daily for 2 weeks after surgery, while those in the no-prune group did not. The primary outcome was the incidence of major LARS at 3 weeks after surgery.
Results
A total of 130 patients were randomized and 118 completed the study (81 men, 37 women), including 55 patients (46.6%) in the prune group and 63 patients (53.4%) in the no-prune group. LARS was confirmed in 15 patients (27.3%) in the prune group and 47 patients (74.6%) in the no-prune group (P<0.001). The incidence of major LARS was also significantly lower in the prune group (18.2% vs. 61.9%, P<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that the level of anastomosis and prune consumption were significantly associated with the incidence of LARS. The prune group had higher emotional scores and lower symptom scores for constipation, sleep disturbance, and loss of appetite in the quality-of-life questionnaire.
Conclusion
Prune consumption significantly reduced the incidence of LARS and improved quality of life after low anterior resection. Trial registration: CRIS identifier: KCT0006085 (registered on September 1, 2019).

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome in Chinese and Western Medicine
小琴彭
Advances in Clinical Medicine.2026; 16(02): 2174. CrossRef

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