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Therapeutics
Dietary fibre supplementation with psyllium or gum arabic reduced faecal incontinence in community-living adults

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.7.1.20

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    (2001) Nurs Res 50, 203. Bliss DZ, Jung HJ, Savik K. , et al. . Supplementation with dietary fiber improves fecal incontinence.. Jul–Aug;. :. –13..
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 QUESTION: In community-living adults with incontinence of loose or liquid stools, does dietary fibre supplementation with psyllium or gum arabic reduce faecal incontinence?

    Design

    Randomised {allocation concealed*}†, blinded {clinicians, participants, and statisticians}†,* placebo controlled trial with 8 day post-intervention comparison.

    Setting

    Colorectal surgical practice and community in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

    Participants

    42 adults (mean age 61 y) with at least weekly faecal incontinence of loose or liquid stools. Exclusion criteria were rectal prolapse, colon cancer, rectal fistula, ulcerative colitis, or removal of some portion of the gastrointestinal tract. No participant had biofeedback training for pelvic muscle exercises. Follow up was 93%.

    Intervention

    Participants were allocated to receive 31 days of dietary fibre supplementation with psyllium 7.1 g/day (n=13); gum arabic 25 g/day (n=13); or placebo given as pectin 0.25 g/day (n=13). Supplements were mixed into fruit juice and divided into 2 servings for consumption during the morning …

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    Footnotes

    • Sources of funding: National Institute of Nursing Research; National Institutes of Health; American Federation for Aging Research; Sigma Theta Tau Zeta Chapter; University of Minnesota.

    • For correspondence: Dr D Z Bliss, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 6-101 Weaver-Densford Hall, 308 Harvard Street, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. bliss{at}tc.umn.edu.

    • A modified version of this abstract also appears in Evidence-Based Nursing

    • ↵* See glossary.

    • ↵† Information provided by author.