Prune Juice For Constipation: Can It Help And How To Use It?

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Medical News TodaySubscribeCan prune juice help relieve constipation?

Medically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on February 3, 2025

Does it work?
Prunes vs. prune juice
Other benefits
How to take
Risks and side effects
Contacting a doctor
FAQ
Summary

Research suggests that drinking prune juice may help treat constipation. It may soften stools and encourage more frequent bowel movements.

Constipation can occur for many reasons, including low activity levels, dietary factors, health conditions, and specific medical treatments.

Often, home remedies are the first line of treatment, particularly for occasional constipation. Prune juice is among the most popular home treatments.

Does prune juice work?

prunes to make prune juice for constipation — annick vanderschelden photography/Getty Images

Many people find that prune juice helps manage constipation, and some evidence supports these claims.

In a 2022 study, 84 people with chronic constipation took 54 grams (g) of either prune juice or a placebo each day.

After 8 weeks, those who took the prune juice had softer stools and more frequent bowel movements than the other group. They reported no adverse effects of loose, watery stools, diarrhea, or flatulence.

The researchers believed prune juice’s success as a treatment was mainly due to its sorbitol, pectin, and polyphenol content.

Prunes are high in fiber and contain hemicellulose, cellulose, and pectin.

Gut microbiota can quickly ferment some fiber types, such as pectin, which may act as a prebiotic. Cellulose does not ferment but increases the water levels in the stool by stimulating movement in the gut.

Prunes vs. prune juice

Manufacturers make prune juice from dried plums. While prune juice benefits people with constipation, eating whole prunes may be just as effective.

This is because prune juice loses soluble fiber during the juicing process. Fiber aids stool bulking through water retention in the colon, which results in softer stools and better bowel movements.

Other benefits of prunes

As well as providing relief from digestive problems, regularly consuming prunes and prune juice may benefit a person’s health in the following ways:

lowering the risk of diabetes
protecting against cardiovascular disease
preserving bone strength

What are some other benefits of prune juice?

How to make and take prune juice

There are no set guidelines on using prune juice for constipation. One reason is that there is no standard way to prepare or prescribe prune juice.

In 2022, researchers noted that people benefited from a daily dose of 54 g, or around 54 milliliters (ml) of prune juice over 8 weeks.

Learn more about other juices for constipation.

Risks and side effects

Consuming prunes or prune juice is a relatively low risk remedy for constipation. However, prune juice is also very high in sugar and calories. A 31 g cup of prune juice contains 5 g of sugar.

A high sugar intake can increase the risk of weight gain and blood sugar problems.

What are some other home remedies for constipation?

When to contact a doctor

Everyone’s bowel movement patterns are different. However, people who pass fewer than three movements a week may wish to consult a doctor, mainly if their stools are hard and difficult to pass.

A doctor may recommend dietary and lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medications. People with severe constipation may need prescription medications, an enema, or manual stool removal.

What is the treatment for fecal impaction?

Frequently asked questions

How quickly does prune juice relieve constipation?

How quickly prune juice relieves constipation depends on each individual. For some, it may take only a few hours, while for others it may take days.

What are other ways to stimulate a bowel movement quickly?

Fiber supplements, drinking coffee, or taking a laxative may help stimulate bowel movements quickly.

Does prune juice break up impacted stool?

Prune juice can break up impacted, hard, and lumpy stools in the bowels.

Summary

Constipation is a common problem affecting a person’s quality of life. Without treatment, it can lead to serious health complications.

Prune juice and prunes may be an effective and low risk solution for some people, especially those with mild constipation. However, it is best to consume these fruits and their juice in moderation as both are high in sugar and calories.

Anyone with severe or persistent constipation should seek medical advice, as constipation can indicate an underlying health condition that needs attention.

Constipation
GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Nutrition / Diet

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Constipation. (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/
Etale A, et al. (2023). Cellulose: A review of water interactions, applications in composites, and water treatment.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00477
Fruit, vegetables and diabetes. (n.d.).https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/eating/fruit-and-diabetes
Got prunes? Fruit linked to better bone health. (2024).https://www.breastcancer.org/news/prunes-for-bone-health
High-fiber foods. (2024).https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/nutrition/high-fiber-foods
Koyama T, et al. (2022). Prune juice containing sorbitol, pectin, and polyphenol ameliorates subjective complaints and hard feces while normalizing stool in chronic constipation: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9531972/
Mullins A, et al. (2022). Study protocol: Effects of daily prune consumption on lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9193672/
Prune juice, 100%. (n.d.).https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Prune_juice%2C_100%25_64132010_nutritional_value.html
van der Schoot A, et al. (2022). The effect of fiber supplementation on chronic constipation in adults: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523036146

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Medically reviewed by Kelsey Trull, PA-C — Written by Jayne Leonard — Updated on February 3, 2025

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