Relation of colonic transit to functional bowel disease in older people: a population-based study

Slow colonic transit appears to be the most important cause of constipation in the elderly. This was determined by a study of 52 people with constipation, 55 with irritable bowel syndrome and 92 with neither condition. Colonic transit was significantly longer in the group with constipation compared to the other two groups. Regular laxative use was also associated with constipation.