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Review: soluble fibre improves overall symptoms and constipation but not abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome

Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care IM/Ambulatory care Gastroenterology

Key Words: dietary fibre • irritable bowel syndrome

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

METHODS
Data sources: Medline (1966–2002) and reference lists.

Study selection and assessment: English language randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of dietary fibre in patients with IBS. Exclusion: studies that combined fibre and drug treatment.

Outcomes: global IBS symptoms, IBS related abdominal pain, and IBS related constipation.

MAIN RESULTS
17 studies (1363 patients) met the selection criteria. 9 studies used soluble fibre, and 8 used insoluble fibre. Study duration ranged from 3–52 weeks (mean 12 wks) in 16 studies; 1 study did not report duration. Studies were combined using a fixed effects model. Fibre improved overall IBS symptoms and IBS related constipation but not IBS related abdominal pain (table). Results were similar for soluble fibre (table). Insoluble fibre improved IBS related constipation but not overall symptoms or IBS related abdominal pain (table).

G Richard Locke, III, MD

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA