Castor Oil and bowel preparation

What 2 graded rows on castor oil agree on for bowel preparation, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.

Consensus finder Rows from the Castor Oil page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides

What the rows agree on

Each block and row is one graded row from the Castor Oil page, with its PubMed record.

Supplement

Castor Oil Choose another

2 rows · 170 people

Split. 1 row found no difference and 1 found a worse outcome.

No difference or worse

Improved

Each block is one evidence row, sized by how many people it enrolled, with its grade inside. Red: a worse outcome.

From the rows

When published

The best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 100 people (2009) and found no difference.

The row that found no difference is newer (2009) than the row that found a worse outcome (1999).

1 no difference · 1 worse

Grade CBowel cleansing before barium enema · No difference
RCT · n 100 · 2009 · Patients referred for barium enema (Thailand)
Not stated in the abstract · Before the examination
No difference in satisfaction or colon cleanliness; sodium phosphate caused more bowel movements and cost more.
Row on the Castor Oil page · PubMed 19253801 (opens PubMed)
Grade CBowel cleansing before colonoscopy · Worse
RCT · n 70 · 1999 · Outpatients scheduled for colonoscopy (Taiwan)
60 ml castor oil once · Day before the examination
Castor oil cleaned the ascending colon and caecum less well (score 3.5 vs 5.2) and caused more abdominal pain (38% vs 11%) and nausea (29% vs 8%).
Row on the Castor Oil page · PubMed 10634161 (opens PubMed)