A Normocaloric, Low-Fiber Diet for Colonoscopy Preparation Is More Acceptable and Non-Inferior to a Liquid, Low-Calorie Diet: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Several publications have shown greater acceptance of less restrictive diets for colonoscopy preparation, without impairing the quality of the preparation, when compared to the clear liquid diet. Objective: To evaluate the quality, tolerance and preference regarding the colonoscopy preparation of a low-fiber, normocaloric diet compared with a hypocaloric liquid diet. Methods: This is a randomized, controlled, observer-blind study to compare two low-fiber colonoscopy preparation diets (hypocaloric liquid diet vs. normocaloric diet). The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the preparations, being considered adequate BBPS ≥6 in the global assessment and ≥2 in each segment. The same laxative was used in both groups as well as the “split-dose” regimen. Results: A total of 136 individuals were enrolled in each group. Adequate preparation was achieved in 90.4% of the individuals allocated to the liquid diet group and 92.6% to the normocaloric group. There was no significant difference in the quality of preparation and tolerance between groups. A higher patient acceptance to repeat the procedure if necessary was observed in the normocaloric diet group compared with the liquid diet group (P=0.005). Conclusion: The normocaloric diet has shown to be not inferior to the liquid diet regarding the quality of the colonoscopy preparation. Patient tolerance rates were similar between both diets, but a higher acceptance rate was observed with the normocaloric diet as compared with the liquid diet.