title: Efficacy and safety of daikenchuto (TJ-100) in pregnant women with constipation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Constipation is common and a significant problem in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and the safety of daikenchuto in pregnant women with constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study, and a total of 20 patients were registered between February 2010 and August 2012. The patients received 7.5 g/d of daikenchuto for 28 days from the day of registration. All enrolled patients were asked to complete the constipation assessment scale (CAS) every day. In addition, we measured the aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels to assess the adverse effects of daikenchuto.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CAS scores were significantly lower at 28 days after daikenchuto treatment (p = 0.019), with a significant effect achieved on Day 1. The impact of the therapy was greatest in the second trimester (p = 0.043). No significant adverse effects of daikenchuto were observed, and the rates of preterm birth and pregnancy-induced hypertension were 10% and 5%, respectively, which are similar to previously reported values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We herein demonstrated the efficacy and safety of daikenchuto in pregnant women with constipation. We hope that our findings will aid in the management of constipation in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address: hiro-t@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumigama
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mano
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasugai Municipal Hospital, Kasugai-shi, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kikkawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult; D032106:Zanthoxylum; D030521:Zingiberaceae
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; C121414:dai-kenchu-to; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: constipation; constipation assessment scale; daikenchuto; pregnancy; trimester