Soluble or insoluble fibre in irritable bowel syndrome in primary care? Randomised placebo controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of increasing the dietary content of soluble fibre (psyllium) or insoluble fibre (bran) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

General practice.

Participants

275 patients aged 18-65 years with irritable bowel syndrome.

Interventions

12 weeks of treatment with 10 g psyllium (n=85), 10 g bran (n=97), or 10 g placebo (rice flour) (n=93).

Main outcome measures

The primary end point was adequate symptom relief during at least two weeks in the previous month, analysed after one, two, and three months of treatment to assess both short term and sustained effectiveness. Secondary end points included irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity score, severity of abdominal

SUBMITTER: Bijkerk CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3272664 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature