Dietary Fiber May Relieve IBS Symptoms 34416

Dietary Fiber May Relieve IBS Symptoms

VALLADOLID, Spain--Supplemental dietary fiber may mitigate thesymptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a study published inthe September edition of Nutrition (20, 9:735-7, 2004) (www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08999007).

In the single blind, randomized, clinical trial, 56 subjects with IBS wererandomly assigned to a group supplemented with 10.4 g/d of dietary fiber (group1) or a group supplemented with 30.5 g/d of dietary fiber (group 2). Subjectswere assessed at baseline and at three months for body weight, symptoms andnutritional intake by means of written food records. Total energy intake anddistribution of macronutrients were not significantly different between groups.Total dietary fiber intake did not reach recommended levels in either group butwas higher in group 2 than in group 1. Pain scores, bowel scores and generalscores improved in both groups from baseline to three months and no significantdifferences were detected between groups.

The researchers concluded a modest fiber intake in IBS patients relievedsymptoms, but may have been attributable to a placebo effect since test resultswere similar in the low-fiber group.