Table 5 Comparison of the subjects’ characteristics between group A and group B

Weekly defecation frequency in October

Less than 3 times

More than 3 times

Mean age (the youngest–the oldest)

90.4 ± 8.4 years (65–100 years)

87.4 ± 1.8 years (87–96 years)

0.3071^b

Numbers of female and male

11 Females and 3 males

10 Females and 4 males

0.5000^a

Mean nursing care level

2.6 ± 1.2

3.5 ± 1.0

0.0468^b

Types of supplied main meal

10 Boiled rices and 4 rice porridges

7 Boiled rices and 7 rice porridges

0.2200^a

Types of supplied side dish

9 Ordinary side dishes and 5 soften side dishes

4 Ordinary side dishes and 10 soften side dishes

0.0642^a

Mean days with defecation (in October)

7.1 ± 1.5

14.8 ± 2.9

<0.0000^b

Mean days with laxative administration (in October)

6.9 ± 3.0

2.2 ± 1.5

<0.0000^b

Mean quotient of defecation days/laxative administration days

1.3 ± 0.7

7.6 ± 5.4

0.0002^b