Unpasteurized makgeolli 300 mL/day,
does it really help with Improved bowel movements and constipation relief?
research showsThe grade is ?. An 18-person crossover study measured fecal microbiota only, not bowel frequency, constipation symptoms, stool form, or colonic transit time. Within the search conducted on 2026-08-04, no human trial measuring these bowel endpoints was found, so the verdict remains pending.
ads claimIt is true that viable lactic-acid bacteria can be detected in unpasteurized makgeolli. Counts and species vary greatly by product, however, and bacterial presence or a microbiota shift does not demonstrate more complete spontaneous bowel movements or less constipation.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- Search record (2026-08-04): PubMed, KCI, RISS, DBpia, and the web were searched for 'makgeolli baebyeon' (makgeolli bowel movement), 'makgeolli byeonbi inche siheom' (makgeolli constipation human trial), 'makgeolli constipation human trial', and 'rice wine bowel movement'; no human trial measuring bowel outcomes was found within this scope.
- Across 94 unpasteurized commercial products, mean viable counts were 5.61±1.92 log CFU/mL at day 10 and 5.39±1.79 at day 30.
- Applying the day-10 product-group mean to 300 mL gives about 1.2×10^8 CFU, but this is not a direct measurement of any specific product.
- The product range was wide and pasteurization significantly affected microbial communities, so individual products require direct testing.
- At 6% ABV, 300 mL contains about 14.2 g ethanol using density 0.789 g/mL.
What the research actually shows
A 2024 randomized crossover trial compared makgeolli with soju, beer, and red wine in 18 healthy adults and measured fecal microbiota only; it did not measure bowel frequency, constipation symptoms, stool form, or colonic transit time. The 2025 Food & Function 16:7617-7628 paper by Jung S, Lee Y, Park YK, and Park E tested freeze-dried makgeolli in loperamide-constipated rats, not humans.
Why this is classified as ?
No human study directly measuring bowel or constipation outcomes was found within this search scope, so grade and score remain unassigned.
Counterpoint. This does not mean makgeolli has no human research at all; existing human work measured microbiota rather than the claimed bowel benefit.
Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — Within the specified Korean and international search scope on 2026-08-04, no human study directly measuring bowel or constipation outcomes after makgeolli was found
| Endpoint | P | Patient-reported treatment goal - the symptom is the goal |
The scoring table and the verdict agree (?).
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Presence of viable LAB in unpasteurized makgeolli | C | Confirmed in a 94-product composition analysis. |
| Improved bowel movements and constipation relief | ? | No human study directly measuring this endpoint was identified. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | Randomized crossover beverage trial in 18 adults | 18 | Not confirmed in the accessible abstract | Fecal microbial composition | Relative abundances of some genera changed, but bowel and constipation outcomes were not measured | Indirect to clinical efficacy |
| Study 2 | Microbial analysis of 94 commercial unpasteurized products | 94 | Food-composition research | Viable LAB count and taxa | 5.61±1.92 at day 10 and 5.39±1.79 log CFU/mL at day 30 | Composition evidence |
Receipt — 3 References
All 3 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-08-04).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-04 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Unpasteurized makgeolli 300 mL/day x bowel movements and constipation — Evidence Grade ?. 3 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/gut/unpasteurized-makgeolli-constipation-bowel-movements/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.