Thank goodness prunes do work in some patients! Chronic constipation can be such a problem to treat. The increased fibre is certainly one mechanism, but prunes also contain high concentrations of sorbitol, a known laxative. Prune juice, often recommended for constipation, contains sorbitol but lacks fibre. Dried fruits tend to have high sorbitol concentrations.

There have been a few very small, weak trials that included prunes in mixed preparations, but none testing prunes alone. Some involved prune juice rather than solid fruit. They did show benefit in constipation. Flatulence was noted as a side effect in at least one trial. Despite the weakness of the evidence, prunes and prune juice are recommended in many respected guidelines, not only for constipation but also for fecal incontinence.

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