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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #80526
Title: EFFECTS OF DIETARY FIBER THERAPY FOR FECAL INCONTINENCE

Author
item BLISS, D - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Jung, Hans Joachim
item LOWRY, A - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item SAVIK, K - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item JENSEN, L - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item LEMOINE, M - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item WERNER, C - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Gerontological Society of America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fecal incontinence (FI) is treated with dietary fiber to reduce stool liquidity by trapping water in a matrix of partly fermented fiber or promoting colonic water absorption with fiber fermentation products. To determine therapeutic effects of dietary fiber, 39 adults with FI (8 M, 31 F; age = 61 +/- 2 yrs; average +/- SEM) recorded diet intake, stool characteristics, and incontinence, and collected stools for 8 d in period (baseline) and at the end of a 31 d fiber period, period 2. Subjects were randomized into Group Met (25 g/d Metamucil, a partly fermented fiber), Group GA (25 g/d gum arabic, a totally fermented fiber), or Group Pec (0.25 g/d pectin, a placebo). In period 1, dietary and stool variables were similar among groups, p > 0.05. The % of incontinent stools was less in period 2 for Groups Met (13 +/- 5%) and GA (23 +/- 8%) compared to Pec (47 +/- 9%) or period 1 (Met = 49 +/- 7%, GA = 66 +/- 7%, Pec = 55 +/- 8%, p = 0.002. There was no difference in usual fiber intake (Met = 11 +/- 2 g/d, GA = 12 +/- 1 g/d, Pec = 13 +/- 3 g/d, p = 0.7), stool frequency (p = 0.9); % of loose/liquid stools (Met = 30 +/- 7%, GA = 34 +/- 9%, Pec = 40 +/- 8%, p = 0.6) or % of stool water (Met = 79 +/- 2%, GA = 75 +/- 2%, Pec = 77 +/- 2%, p = 0.2) among groups in period 2. Stool composites of the groups were similar in total fiber content (Met = 0.20 +/- 0.06 g/kg/d, GA = 0.18 +/- 0.09 g/kg/d, Pec = 0.26 +/- 0.13 g/kg/d, on a dry matter basis, p = 0.7) and short chain fatty acid content (Met = 17 +/- 2 mmol/L/d, GA = 19 +/- 2 mmol/L/d, Pec = 23 +/- 2 mmol/L/d, p = 0.06, N = 37). Fiber supplements reduce FI without affecting stool consistency, water or fiber contents, or fermentation products.