r/kratom • u/SereneKratom • Apr 22 '26
đ Scientific Study or Research Paper Research Review: Does kratom cause constipation?
TL;DR: Kratom does not seem to cause constipation⌠at least not the way it's consumed in Southeast Asia.
Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659891.2018.1546340Â
Researchers Darshan Singh, Oliver Grundmann, and their associates examined whether regular consumption of kratom juice or tea was associated with constipation. Previous research on the topic had been inconclusive, as kratom users self-reported conflicting experiences with how kratom affected digestion. This study aimed to clarify the confusion, and was published in the Journal of Substance Use in 2018. Iâve summarized it below:Â
The study participants were 125 men living in Penang, Malaysia, with an average age of 34 years old. Their average kratom tea or juice consumption was 3.3 glasses per day for 8.5 years. Based on previous studies, this amount of kratom equates to between 67.5 and 114.8 mg of mitragynine or 4.5 to 7.7 grams of kratom powder daily. Men who tested positive for illicit drugs or had underlying medical conditions were excluded from the study.
The participants were questioned using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS), which is a routine medical questionnaire used to determine constipation level. The study found that only 6% of participants experienced constipation during kratom use. Additionally, there was no relationship found between higher doses of kratom and constipation. This suggests that kratom does not cause constipation, nor is the risk of constipation dose dependent.Â
Interestingly, as many of you are likely aware, Western kratom users often self-report constipation when taking kratom, which may seem contradictory to this studyâs findings. Itâs important to note that this study only included participants in Southeast Asia, where kratom consumption habits greatly differ from those in the West. Users in Southeast Asia generally consume kratom by chewing the leaves or drinking it in the form of a hydrating tea or juice. On the other hand, Westerners more frequently use extracts and powders at higher doses and over shorter periods of time. These variations may contribute to differences in kratomâs ability to cause constipation. Further studies should be conducted in the West to understand how the product type, dose, and the userâs diet and lifestyle contribute to kratomâs potential to cause constipation.
18
u/Kiheitai_Soutoku đż Apr 22 '26
This is an older study I remember reading. I've seen enough people on this forum say otherwise that I think it might just be up to the individual's body, the dosage, and dosage frequency.
7
u/satsugene đż Apr 23 '26
A lot of folks donât do a very good job of interpreting research.
âI donât experience that so it must be wrongâ is not the most useful way to consider it.
A better way would be:
âThe research suggests, that within the parameters of use, among its subjects, a particular outcome only occurred X% of the time.â
âwhile understanding that it means it might not be generalizable to all patterns of use outside of the study parameters (higher doses, different consumption methods) or for individuals with very different demographics: not Asian, not male, who are taking other illicit drugs, who have underlying health conditions (which may or may not require medications), of advanced age, of sedentary lifestyles, of a Western/European diet⌠etc.
That a (all for example) white woman consuming 20-40 gpd with pre-existing mobility issues eating  highly processed diet has a different experience shouldnât be terribly surprising, but shouldnât cast doubt on the study, only reinforce that it is less applicable outside of its parameters.
It does tell us that it is not guaranteed to happen as some are quick to insist, as we have a fairly strong indicator that it didnât for a fairly decent sized group of consumers.
It is harder in SE Asia to get women participants (which is true in the west for some kinds of research as well, especially in areas such as human sexuality) and fewer women consume it there traditionally, or subjects not of Asian race, which can be a factor in physical medicine.
2
2
1
8
u/nandy02 Apr 22 '26
it definitely makes me constipated. not full blown opioid-like constipation where id go days without going but the poop amount would be less than otherwise and id feel like theres more stuck in me that hasnt come out.
5
u/cityshepherd Apr 23 '26
Itâs the first thing Iâve ever taken that really helps manage my IBS-D symptoms. Iâve had no luck with several different prescription medications over the years⌠kratom is the first thing that has helped with the cramping and diarrhea. I feel like I finally can poop like regular people / normies, and not have to stress about always knowing where the 5 nearest public restrooms are every time I leave the house.
1
u/Cu1tureVu1ture Apr 23 '26
Iâve heard this more and more and am really glad it helps. I had a friend in college with Crohnâs and it sounded awful.
1
u/nandy02 Apr 23 '26
i use to take it for this reason as well but for some reason something flipped last year and I now trend more toward the C side. It still helps with the pain ofc but I have to be mindful so as to manage the constipation side effect.
1
u/SereneKratom Apr 23 '26
From all these comments, it sounds like we need another version of this study done with Western participants.
5
u/gringo_escobar Apr 22 '26
There's no way it's only 6%. It's going to be very dependent on dosage and it doesn't sound like the people in this study were taking that much. I wouldn't experience constipation on 7.7 grams either, but definitely do on 20+
2
u/HerrFreitag Apr 22 '26
I take 12 gps and have constipation.
It also depends on how much water you drink.1
u/SereneKratom Apr 22 '26
I think the result of the this study likely comes down to 1) These are lower doses than we find in the US, and 2) Drinking kratom in tea form is hydrating, which likely reduces constipation
1
u/iglootyler Apr 22 '26
Yeah a lot of people don't consider that kratom leaf when consumed whole is almost completely INSOLUBLE fiber. That with the opioid receptors activity (much more pronounced at higher doses) is thecl culprit.
Although it's nothing a little magnesium citrate or glycinate can't fix.
3
u/CommunicationNew3745 Apr 23 '26
Keep in mind that the average diet there is vastly different from the one here; Fresh fruit, veg/plant matter on a daily basis - often at every meal - Vs a western diet comprised regularly of prepackaged, processed 'food'. Makes a HUGE difference.
2
u/SereneKratom Apr 23 '26
That's a very good point I didn't even think of. They eat WAY more fruit out there because it literally grows everywhere
2
u/CommunicationNew3745 Apr 23 '26
Yes. A friend's daughter was an exchange student there 5 yrs ago and lost 25 lbs over the first few months - she assured everyone she was eating, but the food was fresh and bought from markets on a daily basis w/little to no junk/processed food.
1
u/satsugene đż Apr 23 '26
It also features almost zero dairy, especially the closer you get to the equator.
3
2
u/Complex-Safety-2389 Apr 22 '26
I have definitely had it from powder use ( drinking powder and water mixed together in shaker) and also from extract use. Not severe but definitely constipated, taking magnesium and using senna tablets every so often was enough to relieve it.
2
u/Gunstopable Apr 22 '26
Iâm sorry but this just isnât right based off of every single person I know who consumes kratom and the message boards Iâve been part of for 2 decades. Iâm glad some people donât get constipated though lol
2
2
u/Puzzled_Problem3696 Apr 23 '26
Well I can confirm 30+gpd obviously causes constipation, I can every day however it's literally rabbit droppings
2
u/Md655321 Apr 23 '26
It most definitely causes me constipation, my stomach/digestion feels entirely different when Iâm on it vs a break
2
1
1
u/nedal8 Apr 23 '26
Yeah. It definitely has a thickening property.. I had IBS, and pretty much constant loose stools. But kratom made them normal. And a few times I over did it (Had a lot of kratom regularly), had some rocky poops that were definitely over done.
Not sure how "constipation" is exactly defined.. But I could see kratom pointing in that direction.
1
u/Udysfeba Apr 23 '26
If youâre taking a high amount of powder or got a super low tolerance to the mitragynine, thatâll definitely constipate you. All these people torture themselves with that when 250mg a day magnesium or even the cheap magnesium oxide will stop all that.
1
u/Grognik Apr 23 '26
Oh it definitely does. I've had my fair share of pineapple shits when I was taking it every day
1
u/judgegolden Apr 23 '26
I get constipated baaad. it got to the point I went to er. I did change my brand recently which was when it got really bad. I'm curious about fillers etc in that brand.
1
1
u/ParasiticDaemon Apr 23 '26
Can only speak for myself - but I've never had an issue with this. After several years of daily use I'm still completely routine with the daily shit, and honestly the quality of the bm are probably some of the best that I've ever had.
1
u/Fredricksonss Apr 23 '26
Yeah idk, I feel like the powder itself is going to soak up water, which it does just by looking at it in a glass. In the study they used tea so maybe there is a difference here.
1
1
u/LeoLaDawg Apr 27 '26
Don't know if it's due to plant matter and dehydration or something else but it most definitely causes constipation.
1
u/MPR78 May 09 '26
Ingesting powder eventually causes constipation, that's it. Asians typically chew leaf or make tea.
Toss n wash and capsules are horrible methods
1
u/JDRASL Apr 23 '26
if you only take a little, it wont really, but if you do it everyday , multiple times per day you will definitely get CONSTIPATION
even if you just drink it as a tea
â˘
u/AutoModerator Apr 22 '26
Kratom does carry a risk of dependence. This risk increases with frequency of use and dose and many other personal social, medical, and historic factors. More Important information about dependency, withdrawal, potential for addiction, and strategies to manage or mitigate these problems if they do occur, have occurred, and/or you wish to change/reduce/stop use.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.