The effects of dietary fibre on upper and lower gastro-intestinal transit times and faecal bulking
Staniforth, D.H.; Baird, I.M.; Fowler, J.; Lister, R.E.
Journal of International Medical Research 19(3): 228-233
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-0605 PMID: 1657656 Document Number: 376813
A total of 10 obese patients (body mass index > 25) undergoing treatment with a very low-calorie (330 kcal/day) liquid diet were treated without and with 10.5 or 21 g/day dietary fibre. Mean (.+-.SE) fecal bulking increased significantly (P < 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner from 314.8 .+-. 54.4 g on a fibre-free diet to 517.2 .+-. 45.4 g and 748.9 .+-. 78.5 g, respectively, over 5 days on diets containing 10.5 and 21 g/day dietary fibre. Total mean colonic transit time decreased from 53.9 .+-. 3.6 h on a fibre-free diet to 25.8 .+-. 44 and 17.3 .+-. 4.6 h, respectively, on diets including 10.5 and 21 g/day dietary fibre. Both right and left colonic transit times were similarly affected but no effect on orocaecal transit time was detected.