The Effect of Abdominal Massage with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil on Constipation among Elderly Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Only 52 elderly nursing-home residents were analysed, so the results may not apply to people outside that setting or to people excluded for dementia, abdominal surgery, wounds, skin disorders, or other conditions. Constipation was measured only once, on the sixth day, using the Constipation Assessment Scale, so it is not known whether the effect lasts. All groups continued medications prescribed by the nursing home physician, so the study cannot show that extra-virgin olive oil alone caused the improvement. The massage was delivered by a trained masseur, not by the nurses or care staff who might use it, and the authors did not describe the mechanism of action. The trial was described as single-blind, and only the score assessor is stated to be unaware of group.

Do not conclude that extra-virgin olive oil alone treats constipation. The olive-oil group also received a 15-minute abdominal massage and continued medications prescribed by the nursing home physician, and the water-massage group also improved, so the study cannot separate the oil from the massage or medications.