Table 5

Gastrointestinal symptoms scores (mean±SD) for each group before and after intervention

ParameterTime pointErythritol group (n=14)Xylitol group (n=14)Control group (n=14)Time effect
(P value)		Treatment effect
(P value)
Q1: Abdominal pain (pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen)Preintervention1.2±0.41.4±0.91.1±0.40.1080.390
Week 2 of intervention1.6±1.61.6±1.11.8±0.9
Week 4 of intervention1.3±0.81.6±1.01.9±1.4
Q2: Reflux (heart burn)Preintervention1.1±0.41.7±1.31.4±0.60.5600.015*
(C vs E)
Week 2 of intervention1.3±0.51.5±0.91.3±0.6
Week 4 of intervention1.1±0.51.6±1.01.8±1.2
Q3: Reflux (acid reflux)Preintervention1.1±0.41.4±1.11.4±0.80.8720.531
Week 2 of intervention1.4±0.71.3±0.61.2±0.4
Week 4 of intervention1.3±0.81.2±0.61.6±0.9
Q4: Abdominal pain (hunger pains)Preintervention1.9±0.92.7±1.42.2±1.50.8130.141
Week 2 of intervention2.1±1.42.7±1.42.6±1.5
Week 4 of intervention1.8±1.12.6±1.32.2±1.0
Q5: Abdominal pain (nausea)Preintervention1.0±0.01.4±0.81.3±0.70.2610.480
Week 2 of intervention1.6±1.41.5±1.21.2±0.4
Week 4 of intervention1.3±0.81.7±1.31.6±1.0
Q6: Indigestion (rumbling in the stomach)Preintervention1.8±1.12.2±1.12.0±1.60.1700.113
Week 2 of intervention1.7±0.92.5±1.32.6±1.7
Week 4 of intervention1.4±0.62.6±1.81.8±1.3
Q7: Indigestion (bloating)Preintervention2.5±1.82.4±1.52.1±1.40.8070.442
Week 2 of intervention2.1±1.92.8±1.92.2±1.4
Week 4 of intervention1.7±1.12.7±1.82.4±1.9
Q8: Indigestion (burping)Preintervention1.6±0.82.1±1.31.9±1.20.4360.079
Week 2 of intervention1.5±0.91.9±1.32.0±1.3
Week 4 of intervention1.3±0.62.1±1.42.5±2.0
Q9: Indigestion (passing gas/flatus)Preintervention2.4±1.42.9±1.42.5±1.10.9350.482
Week 2 of intervention2.6±1.72.9±1.72.4±1.5
Week 4 of intervention2.2±1.22.9±1.92.8±1.9
Q10: Constipation (reduced emptying)Preintervention1.0±0.01.5±1.32.1±1.40.7010.159
Week 2 of intervention1.6±1.31.8±1.51.6±0.9
Week 4 of intervention1.1±0.52.0±1.91.5±1.2
Q11: Diarrhoea (frequent emptying)Preintervention1.4±0.71.6±0.91.9±1.00.2120.236
Week 2 of intervention1.9±1.22.4±1.71.2±0.6
Week 4 of intervention1.7±0.82.1±1.62.3±1.3
Q12: Diarrhoea (loose stools)Preintervention1.4±0.91.6±0.92.1±1.20.2970.022*
(E vs X)
Week 2 of intervention1.4±0.62.9±2.11.5±0.8
Week 4 of intervention1.5±0.82.5±2.02.4±1.8
Q13: Constipation (hard stools)Preintervention1.2±0.81.7±1.41.9±1.30.5630.630
Week 2 of intervention1.9±1.41.4±0.91.9±1.3
Week 4 of intervention1.4±0.61.9±1.21.4±0.8
Q14: Diarrhoea (urgent need of bowel movement)Preintervention1.4±0.51.1±0.51.4±0.60.006**
(pre vs W2)		0.262
Week 2 of intervention1.6±0.92.7±1.91.5±0.8
Week 4 of intervention1.6±1.02.4±2.22.1±1.8
Q15: Diarrhoea (incomplete emptying) Removed from the analysis due to many missing values

  • Linear mixed effect model with subsequent Šidak test.

  • **Significant with p<0.01; *significant with p<0.05.

  • C, control group; E, erythritol group; W2, week 2; X, xylitol group.