Just chewing gum after colon surgery helps your bowels start working again, whether the gum has nicotine or not.
Scientific Claim
Chewing gum itself, regardless of nicotine content, appears to promote gastrointestinal recovery after colorectal surgery, as both groups achieved resolution of ileus within 6 days in nearly all patients, consistent with prior evidence supporting sham feeding.
Original Statement
“Gum chewing is another important strategy, which has already been proven to be beneficial for gastrointestinal recovery after surgery... In both groups, six patients (30%) suffered from PPOI on or after POD6.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The study confirms recovery occurred in both groups, consistent with prior meta-analyses, and the claim is descriptive and supported by the data without overreach.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Nicotine chewing gum for the prevention of postoperative ileus after colorectal surgery: a multicenter, double-blind, randomised, controlled pilot study
Both types of gum—whether they had nicotine or not—helped patients’ guts recover at the same rate, so it’s the act of chewing, not the nicotine, that’s helping.