CHICAGO (AP) -- Can you chew gum and recover from surgery at the same time?

British researchers say it's a great idea for some patients.

A new analysis of five studies suggests chewing gum may speed the return of normal bowel function after colon surgery.

Some patients have trouble moving their bowels after colon surgery but chewing gum may fool the body into good digestion.

The findings are in this month's Archives of Surgery.

They come from an analysis of five studies with a total of 158 patients. As the patients recovered from colon surgery, some chewed sugarless gum three times a day for five to 45 minutes. Others did not chew gum.

But a cautious Doctor Theodore Saclarides says more study is needed.

He's the head of colon and rectal surgery at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center.

.