Dietary fibre intake of irritable bowel patients prescribed a high fibre diet

Abstract

Seventy‐three patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were randomly allocated into one of the following three groups: dietary advice with follow up (DAF) had repeated dietary advice from an experienced senior‐dietitian, dietary advice (DA) a single interview with the dietitian and no dietary advice (NDA) a diet‐sheet alone without explanation. An age, sex‐matched control group was recruited from staff at an institute for higher education. Fibre was assessed by a food‐frequency questionnaire at the beginning and end of the 6‐month study, and by a 7‐day weighed food inventory at the end of the study. There was no difference between the fibre intake of the patients and controls at the beginning of the study. After 6 months there was a mean increase of 7 g fibre/day by the patients (P<0.001) but no increase by the controls. There was no difference in the intake of the three dietary‐treatment groups either at the beginning or end of the study, whether assessed by questionnaire or weighed inventory. Only 14 patients achieved a daily intake of 30 g fibre during the week they weighed their food. This study suggests that although simple diet‐sheets given to patients without further explanation have their limitations, currently employed methods of dietetic counselling appear to offer little additional advantage.

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of diet and nutrient intake in adults with irritable bowel syndrome

“…Fiber intake was analyzed from 24 studies 11,15,16,43,44,48–50,54,56,63,66,68,69,86,87,89–91,94,98,102–105 ( N = 3388 participants with IBS, N = 7179 controls) to demonstrate lower intake in participants with IBS compared to controls with high heterogeneity (MD: −1.8 g; 95% CI: −3.0, −0.6; I 2 = 85%, Figure 3). Meta‐regression revealed a significant association between female proportion and differences in fiber intake ( p = 0.03); differences in fiber intake between IBS adults with IBS and non‐IBS controls were larger for studies with a greater proportion of females.…”

“…Fiber intake was analyzed from 24 studies 11,15,16,43,44,[48][49][50]54,56,63,66,68,69,86,87,[89][90][91]94,98,[102][103][104][105] (N = 3388 participants with IBS, N = 7179 controls) to demonstrate lower intake in participants with IBS compared to controls with high heterogeneity (MD: −1.8 g; 95% CI: −3.0, −0.6; I 2 = 85%, Figure 3).…”

Sources of fibre in the diet of irritable bowel patients prescribed a high‐fibre diet

“…Median (mean) intake of dietary fibre by the patients was 19.5 (21.6)g (males 22.9 [25.1] g; females 16.9 [19.5 81). Full details of the quantities of fibre consumed and the relationship between intake and amount of dietetic counselling are given elsewhere (Lambert, et al, 1991a).…”

Is our dietary advice effective?

“…1990). Lambert et al (1991) assessed compliance with advice regarding fibre consumption either given by a dietitian or an unqualified individual. Compliance was equally good.…”