Clinical audit of the effects of low-fibre diet on irritable bowel syndrome

Introduction High‐fibre diets are frequently advocated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) although there is little scientific evidence to support this. Experience of patients on low‐fibre diets suggests that this may be an effective treatment for IBS, warranting investigation. Metho...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of human nutrition and dietetics 2000-08, Vol.13 (4), p.249-253
Main Authors: Woolner, J. T., Kirby, G. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
diet
Diseases of the digestive system
high-fibre
irritable bowel syndrome
low-fibre diet
Medical sciences
proprietary fibre supplement
Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects)
wheat bran
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Introduction High‐fibre diets are frequently advocated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) although there is little scientific evidence to support this. Experience of patients on low‐fibre diets suggests that this may be an effective treatment for IBS, warranting investigation. Methods Symptoms were recorded for 204 IBS patients presenting in the gastroenterology clinic. They were then advised on a low‐fibre diet with bulking agents as appropriate. Symptoms were reassessed by postal questionnaire 4 weeks later. Patients who had improved on the diet were advised on the gradual reintroduction of different types of fibre to determine the quantity and type of fibre tolerated by the individual. Results Seventy‐four per cent of questionnaires were returned. A significant improvement (60–100% improvement in overall well‐being) was recorded by 49% of patients. Conclusion This preliminary study suggests that low‐fibre diets may be an effective treatment for some IBS patients and justifies further investigation as a full clinical trial.
ISSN:0952-3871
1365-277X
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-277x.2000.00240.x