Do fibre containing enteral diets have advantages over existing low residue diets?

Systematic review and meta‐analysis: the clinical and physiological effects of fibre‐containing enteral formulae

“…Overall the fibre‐containing feeds were well tolerated. The incidence of intolerance symptoms was mentioned in 26 studies (five in healthy volunteers, 21 in patients; Table 2) with no difference between fibre‐supplemented and fibre‐free formulae reported in 21 studies: healthy volunteers 34, 43, 46, 62 and patients 8, 27, 29, 33, 35, 41, 42, 48, 51–53, 55–58, 63, 70 . A small number of studies in patients reported an increase in flatulence, 14, 38 abdominal distension, 40 vomiting, 68 whereas Whelan et al.…”

“…In 18 of 38 (47%) studies, feeding was administered via a nasogastric tube; 28–31, 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, 49, 50, 53, 58, 60, 65, 66, 68, 71 …”

“…Three RCTs enrolled patients with acute medical conditions ( n = 95 in fibre group and 105 in fibre‐free group) 42, 54, 65 . Fibre supplementation led to a significant decrease in bowel frequency compared with fibre‐free enteral feeds [overall test of effect, −0.22 (S.E.…”

“…1.3); P = 0.001] were analysed separately. This type of meta-regression is subject to a 61 2 1 3 0 Oat (n = 1) 9 2 1 1 5 Galactomannan (n = 1) 65 2 1 2 8 FOS (n = 1) 56 2 1 18.5 Carrot (pectin ⁄ cellulose) (n = 1) 42 2 2 2 4 FOS ⁄ pea (n = 1) 15 2 2 2 6 Soy oligosaccharides (n = 1) 9 2 1 1 5 Ispaghula husk (n = 1) 40 2 1 7 Oat, soy, gum arabic, carboxymethylcellulose, FOS, pectin (n = 1) 32 2 6 2 9 Not reported (n = 3) 62, 68, 72 6 2 0 * Some studies examined more than one fibre source. As reported in the articles, amount of total dietary fibre was used whenever available.…”

Enteral feeding. Nasogastric, nasojejunal, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or jejunostomy: its indications and limitations

“…44 Constipation is a common problem, and there is little conclusive evidence that lack of dietary fibre in enteral feed is the cause. 51 The lack of effect on constipation from fibre may be due in part to the manufacturing process altering the physicochemical properties of the added fibre. 52 The commonest reported complication of enteral tube feeding is diarrhoea, which can occur in up to 30% of patients on general medical and surgical wards 53 and 68% of patients on intensive care units.…”