Effect of Fiber on Colon Function

Eastwood, M. A.; Brydon, William Cordon; Tadesse, K.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-9176-4_1

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Our study confirmed most of the previous findings, including the increase in stool moisture concentration (5)(6)(7)(8). Typical moisture concentrations of human stool are 70-75% (4) and most stoolbulking fiber sources do not increase the moisture content of stool (4). The additional hydration of stool by psyllium is an uncommon mechanism of laxation for a dietary fiber source, a feature that has been used to treat loose stools (30).…”

Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 80%

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An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans

Marlett

Kajs

Fischer

2000

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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Background: In addition to increasing stool weight, supplements of psyllium seed husk produce stools that are slick and gelatinous. Objective: Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that a gelforming fraction of psyllium escapes microbial fermentation and is responsible for the characteristics that enhance laxation. Design: Fifteen healthy adults consumed controlled diets for two 7-d periods, one of which included 8.8 g dietary fiber provided by 15 g/d of a psyllium seed husk preparation. All stools were collected and evaluated and diet was monitored throughout. Results: Psyllium significantly increased the apparent viscosity of an aqueous stool extract, stool moisture, and wet and dry stool weights. A very viscous fraction, not present in low-fiber stool and containing predominantly 2 sugars that are also found in abundance in psyllium husk, was isolated from psyllium stool. Conclusions:In contrast with other viscous fibers that are fermented completely in the colon, a component of psyllium is not fermented. This gel provided lubrication that facilitated propulsion of colon contents and produced a stool that was bulkier and more moist than were stools resulting with use of comparable amounts of other bowel-regulating fiber sources.Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:784-9. KEY WORDSPsyllium seed husk, Plantago ovata, dietary fiber, laxation, colon function, constipation, fermentation INTRODUCTIONMost dietary fiber sources promote laxation by increasing colonic contents, which stimulates propulsion. Unfermented or incompletely fermented fiber and the accompanying moisture it holds are 2 contributors to this increased stool mass (1). Slowly or incompletely fermented fibers also contribute to stool weight by providing substrate for microbial growth. The greater bacterial mass and accompanying water further increase stool weight (2, 3). In most studies, the additional stool mass produced by consumption of more dietary fiber contains the same proportion of moisture as do low-fiber stools (4).Psyllium seed husk (PSH) is a partially fermented dietary fiber from Plantago ovata that increases stool weight and promotes laxation by its presence in stool and by increasing the moisture content of stool (5-8). Available evidence indicates that PSH does not increase fecal bacterial mass (8), although excretion of muramic acid, an amino sugar unique to bacteria, was increased when PSH was part of a rat diet (9).In a preliminary human study, we observed that PSH consumption results in the passage of slick, gelatinous stools (Marlett and Fischer, unpublished observations, 1992), similar to those we observed in the rat study (9). The purposes of this experiment were to isolate the fraction in feces responsible for the gel characteristic of stool, to determine and relate the sugar composition of this fraction to the sugar composition of PSH, and to evaluate the laxative properties of PSH under controlled diet conditions. Our overall objective was to test the hypothesis that this gelatinous material represents unfermented PSH, which con...

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Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 80%

“…The greater bacterial mass and accompanying water further increase stool weight (2,3). In most studies, the additional stool mass produced by consumption of more dietary fiber contains the same proportion of moisture as do low-fiber stools (4).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans

Marlett

Kajs

Fischer

2000

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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“…Insoluble fiber consists of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. It usually has high water holding capacity and contributes to increased fecal bulk and frequency of defecation (Eastwood and others 1980; Cummings 1981). Moreover, all fibers, both soluble and insoluble, can entrap bile acid and prevents its re‐absorption in the liver thus inhibiting cholesterol synthesis (Gurr and Asp 1994).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Polysaccharide Fermentation of Different Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Campos-Vega

Reynoso‐Camacho²,

Pedraza-Aboytes³

et al. 2009

Journal of Food Science

143

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The composition of bioactives including polysaccharide yield and resistant starch (RS) content of 4 raw and cooked bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars was evaluated. Polysaccharide was fermented in vitro by incubation with human gut flora under anaerobic conditions and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production was compared at 6, 12, and 24 h by gas chromatography. Polysaccharide and soluble fiber contents increased upon cooking with stachyose as the major oligosaccharide. Cooked bean of cultivar Bayo Madero had the highest yield of polysaccharides (55%) and resistant starch (37%), followed by those of Negro 8025 (48% and 32%, respectively). Acetate was the most abundant SCFAs formed in all bean varieties. The concentration of SCFAs was cultivar-dependent; Bayo Madero and Negro 8025 displayed the highest concentration of butyrate (15 mmol/L), while Azufrado Higuera had the lowest and highest concentrations of acetate (39 mmol/L) and propionate (14 mmol/L), respectively. The results suggest that the common bean is an excellent source of polysaccharides that can be fermented in the colon and produce SCFAs, compounds previously reported to exert health benefits.

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“…Intake of 30 g/d oligofructose caused stool moisture concentration to vary between 64·4 % and 80·4 % (IQR). Typical stool moisture concentrations range between 70 and 75 % ( 37 ) . Stools with a moisture concentration varying between 79 % and 89 % are considered to be diarrhoeal stools ( 38 ) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance and the effect of high doses of wheat bran extract, containing arabinoxylan–oligosaccharides, and oligofructose on faecal output: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial

François¹,

Lescroart²,

Veraverbeke³

et al. 2014

J. nutr. sci.

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Wheat bran extract (WBE) is a food-grade soluble fibre preparation that is highly enriched in arabinoxylan–oligosaccharides. In this placebo-controlled cross-over human intervention trial, tolerance to WBE as well as the effects of WBE on faecal parameters, including faecal output and bowel habits, were studied. After a 2-week run-in period, twenty healthy volunteers consumed WBE (15 g/d in the first week, 30 g/d in the second week), oligofructose (15 g/d in the first week, 30 g/d in the second week) and placebo (for 2 weeks) in a random order, with 2-week washout periods between each treatment period. Subjects collected a 72 h stool sample for analysis of faecal output, stool pH and stool moisture concentration. Additionally, the volunteers completed questionnaires scoring occurrence frequency and distress severity of eighteen gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. An overall GI symptom measure was calculated to analyse the overall effect of WBE and oligofructose on GI symptoms. Intake of both 30 g/d WBE and 30 g/d oligofructose lowered stool pH, indicative of increased colonic fermentation, and increased stool moisture concentration as compared with placebo intake. Intake of 30 g/d oligofructose increased the overall GI symptom measure by 1·9-fold as compared with placebo intake. Intake of WBE at doses up to 30 g/d did not affect the overall GI symptom measure. WBE exerts beneficial effects on stool characteristics and is well tolerated at up to 30 g/d. Oligofructose exerts comparable beneficial effects on stool characteristics. However, intake of 30 g/d oligofructose appears to cause GI discomfort to some extent.

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Effect of Fiber on Colon Function

Cited by 19 publications

References 66 publications

An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans

An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Polysaccharide Fermentation of Different Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Tolerance and the effect of high doses of wheat bran extract, containing arabinoxylan–oligosaccharides, and oligofructose on faecal output: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial

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