Fiber supplements

Treatment of symptomatic diverticular disease of the colon is aimed at the relief of symptoms and the prevention of major complications. The efficacy of fiber supplementation and of anticholinergic and spasmolytic agents remains controversial. Antibiotics are commonly used in the treatment of inflammatory complications of diverticular disease. Data from open labelled and randomized controlled trials do suggest the efficacy of rifaximin in obtaining symptomatic relief in patients with diverticular disease. Approximately 30% therapeutic gain compared to fiber supplementation only can be expected after one year of intermittent treatment with rifaximin. Considering the safety and tolerability of rifaximin, this drug can be recommended for patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. 

Similar results were obtained in a large prospective open trial including 968 outpatients with symptomatic diverticular disease [44], Patients were randomly assigned to receive fiber supplementation (glucomannan 4 g/day) or fiber supplementation plus rifaximin (400 mg twice a day for 7 days every month) for 12 months. After 12 months, 56.5% of patients in the rifaximin group were symptom free compared to 29.2% of patients in the fiber supplementation only group (p < 0.001). 

There is some evidence that long-term cyclic administration of rifaximin combined with fiber supplementation is effective for inducing symptomatic relief in patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon. A therapeutic gain of approximately 30% compared to fiber supplementation only can be expected. The drug is well tolerated and no relevant side effects have been reported. Symptoms attributed to diverticula (abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, disturbance of bowel habits) are nonspecific symptoms and are also features of irritable bowel syndrome. It has been suggested that irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease of the colon may coexist in many people and when bowel symptoms occur with diverticulosis coli, they may be due to a coexistent irritable bowel rather to the diverticula themselves [47, 48]. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that many patients with symptomatic diverticular disease show co-... 

Cholestyramine, calcium carbonate, sucralfate, aluminum hydroxide, ferrous sulfate, soybean formula, and dietary fiber supplements may impair the absorption of levothyroxine from the GI tract. Drugs that increase nondeiodinative T4 clearance include rifampin, carbamazepine, and possibly phenytoin. Amiodarone may block the conversion of T4 to T3. 

Addition of bran from hard red and soft white wheat bran, psyllium fiber, and cellulose resulted in increased losses of calcium in feces in comparison to losses when no fiber supplements were used (P<0.05). Urinary calcium losses were not significantly affected however, calcium balances were lowered when these four fiber sources were added to the laboratory controlled diet (P < 0.05). 

Ganji, V., and Kies, C. V. (1994). Psyllium husk fiber supplementation to soybean and coconut oil diets of humans Effect on fat digestibility and faecal fatty acid excretion. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 48, 595-597. 

Continue diet increments Constipation Fiber supplement Stool softener Abdominal radiograph Laxative (if x-ray confirms constipation)... 

Hydrophilic substances such as calcium polycarbophil (FiberCon, Equalactin), methylceUulose (Citrucel), and various psyllium seed derivatives (Metamucil) are natural or synthetic fiber supplements that bind water and bile salts and may be useful in controlling diarrhea associated with the passing of excessively watery stools. 

PO006 Sander, E. H. Psylium-hydrocolloid gum compositions and fiber supplements. Paten-Can Pat Appl-2,100,295 1994 17 p. 

PO082 Perez-Miranda, M., A. Gomez-Cedenilla, T. Leon-Colombo, J. Pajares, and J. Mate-Jimenez. Effect of fiber supplements on internal bleeding hemorrhoids. Hepato-Gastroener 1996 43(12) 1504-1507. 

PO097 Leng Peschlow, E. Plantago ovata seeds as dietary fiber supplement physiologi-cal and metabolic effects in rats. Br J Nutr 1991 66(2) 331-349. 

Fecal steroid and lipid excretion. Fiber supplements from sugar cane residue (bagasse), administered to volunteers for 12 weeks, increased stool weights and stool fat excretion. Bagasse increased the daily loss of acid steroids and decreased transit time without alteration in fecal flora. The increased excretion of bile acids and fatty acids failed to lower the plasma cholesterol and TGs after 12 weeks ". 

A. Southgate. The effects of two di- SO084 etary fiber supplements on gastrointestinal transit, stool weight and frequency, and bacterial flora, and fecal bile acids in normal subjects. Me- SO085 tabolism 1977 26(2) 117-128. 

The exoskeletons (protective shells) of insects and some marine organisms, such as crabs and shrimp, are made of chitin, a hard, resilient polysaccharide made of the monosaccharide A acetylglucosamine, as shown in Figure 13.5b. Wood varnish once contained chitin from the exoskeletons of insects. In powdered form, chitin is now finding use as a dietary fiber supplement. 

Gallaher, D.D., Gallaher, C.M., Mahrt, G.J., Carr, T.P., Hollingshead, C.H., Hesslink, R., Jr., and Wise, J. 2002. A glucomannan and chitosan fiber supplement decreases plasma cholesterol and increases cholesterol excretion in overweight normocholesterolemic humans. J. Am. Coll Nutr. 21, 428-433. 

Science Technology, Plastics, Resins, Rubbers, Fibers Supplement Vol. 1—Acrylonitrile Polymers, Degradation to Vinyl Chloride, Herman F. Mark, Norbert M. Bikales, Eds., p. 521, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1976. 

Effect of Fiber Supplementation on Zinc Status of Vegetarian and Omnivore Subjects Fed a Laboratory Controlled Vegetarian Diet... 

There are two soluble fiber supplements that lower cholesterol. Metamucil (psyllium) has been shown to be quite effective, but many people dislike the gritty, thick consistency when it s... 

Inulin is used as a diagnostic agent to measure the glomerular filtration rate. It has also entered the food supplement market as a prebiotic and as a noncaloric dietary fiber supplement. Radio-labelled forms of inulin are available as radiochemicals for research. 

The present review indicates that while pectin products continue to serve as a well-established food additive for technological purposes, the application of pectins for health benefits has many potential opportunities. In the last few decades, considerable research has been done on the physiological effects of pectin in humans as a water-soluble dietary fiber supplement. Some novel pharmacological activities of pectins and pectic polysaccharides are gaining more attention. Although most natural pectins from fruits and vegetables have not been shown to have these activities, chemical and enzymatic modifications may provide useful tools for producing such products for human health care. 

Williams, D.R.R., James, W.P.T. and Evans, I.E. 1980. Dietary fiber supplementation of a normal breakfast administered to diabetics, Diabetologia, 18 379-383. 

As shown in Table III, blood serum iron levels varied neither between groups or as a result of fiber supplementation of diets in any consistent fashion. This-was also true of hematocrit values... 

Iron Utilization of Omnivore and Vegetarian Human Subjects Fed Laboratory Controlled Vegetarian Diets With and Without Fiber Supplements... 

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