Effect of Total Dietary Fiber on Bowel Habit and Bowel Transit in Healthy Subjects

Sung, In Kyung; Rhee, Poong Lyul; Jeon, Seong Kook; Shim, Sang Goon; Son, Hee Jung; Kim, Jae Jun; Koh, Kwang Cheol; Paik, Seung Woon; Rhee, Jong Cheol; Choi, Kyoo Wan; Lim, Hyo Keun

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study was designed to assess the normal bowel habit and effects of dietary fiber on bowel transit in healthy Koreans because such data are not sufficiently available. METHODS: For 30 healthy volunteers (15 males, 15 females), we examined small bowel transit time using lactulose hydrogen breath test and colonic transit time using radiopaque markers. Total dietary fiber intake was assessed by dietary record for three days and bowel habit was assessed using questionnaires. RESULTS: The most common bowel habit was once a day (24 hour cycle). Mean daily consumption of total dietary fiber was 15.2+/-5.2 g. Mean small bowel transit time was 89.4+/-24.4 min with no significant difference according to sex. Mean colonic transit time was 35.7+/-16.5 hours. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between colonic transit time and the amount of total dietary fiber consumption.
CONCLUSIONS
The significant correlation between the amount of total dietary fiber consumption and colonic transit time suggests that decreased consumption of dietary fiber may be related to prolonging colonic transit time.