Still others suggest that are more likely scenario is that bulk laxatives may bebecoming a victim of their own prosperity.
Most of the bulk laxatives now on the market contain the grain psyllium, although some manufacturers have developed products from the milk derivative lactulose.
s Correctol, but sales of bulk laxatives have been sluggish.
Psyllium, a fiber extract from the psyllium seed rich in soluble fiber, is widely used in
bulk laxatives.
Suppliers of
bulk laxatives admit that despite the benefits their products can bring to consumers suffering from constipation and irregularity, they are not always the most convenient items for drug store merchandisers to stock.
With the demand for oats and oat bran skyrocketing because of the cholesterol-lowering fiber they contain, it's not surprising that some people should also turn to over-the-counter
bulk laxatives, which are especially rich in this soluble fiber.
While manufacturers are banking on a strong future for
bulk laxatives, present sales trends in some retail chains show that the current generation of laxative users are shying away from such products.
Manufacturers of stimulants are changing advertising strategies to slow the advance of bulk laxatives, making their own claims to customers seeking natural products.
To that end the company prefers to call Ex-Lax an overnight laxative, says product manager Al Foster, adding that the momentum of bulk laxatives has leveled off over the course of the past year.
