TY - JOUR
T1 - Dietary fiber and other alternative therapies and irritable bowel syndrome
AU - Williams, Lauren
AU - Slavin, Joanne L.
PY - 2009/7/1
Y1 - 2009/7/1
N2 - Dietary fiber has demonstrated benefits in health maintenance, disease prevention, and in medical nutrition therapy. Dietary fiber is consumed in foods, dietary supplements, and in over-the-counter drugs as an aid to laxation. In developed countries, usual intake of dietary fiber is only about half of recommended levels. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the world's most common gastrointestinal functional disorder and greatly limits patients' quality of life. The pathological mechanisms of IBS are unknown, but consumption of dietary fiber may have therapeutic benefits for patients with the syndrome. Some studies find that soluble fibers are more successful than insoluble fibers in the management of IBS. Other fibers shown to have a positive effect on irritable bowel symptoms include wheat dextrin, partially hydrolyzed guar gum, and psyllium. Little data are available on probiotics and prebiotics and IBS. Other alternative therapies including peppermint oil, zinc, arginine, and restricted fructose intakes have been promoted for IBS. Dietary management of IBS must be individualized as symptoms of IBS vary widely.
AB - Dietary fiber has demonstrated benefits in health maintenance, disease prevention, and in medical nutrition therapy. Dietary fiber is consumed in foods, dietary supplements, and in over-the-counter drugs as an aid to laxation. In developed countries, usual intake of dietary fiber is only about half of recommended levels. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the world's most common gastrointestinal functional disorder and greatly limits patients' quality of life. The pathological mechanisms of IBS are unknown, but consumption of dietary fiber may have therapeutic benefits for patients with the syndrome. Some studies find that soluble fibers are more successful than insoluble fibers in the management of IBS. Other fibers shown to have a positive effect on irritable bowel symptoms include wheat dextrin, partially hydrolyzed guar gum, and psyllium. Little data are available on probiotics and prebiotics and IBS. Other alternative therapies including peppermint oil, zinc, arginine, and restricted fructose intakes have been promoted for IBS. Dietary management of IBS must be individualized as symptoms of IBS vary widely.
KW - Dietary fiber
KW - IBS
KW - Irritable bowel syndrome
KW - Prebiotics
KW - Probiotics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=69749088060&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=69749088060&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/TIN.0b013e3181b5441e
DO - 10.1097/TIN.0b013e3181b5441e
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:69749088060
SN - 0883-5691
VL - 24
SP - 262
EP - 271
JO - Topics in Clinical Nutrition
JF - Topics in Clinical Nutrition
IS - 3
ER -