J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2000 Oct;24(5):870-876.

Effect on Diarrhea of Dietary Soluble Fiber Added to Nasogastric Tube-Fed Formulas in Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

• Chon JS
• Chun SI
• Kim DA
• Ohn SH
• Cho SR
• Seo JH
• Yoon TJ
• You S
• Kim JN
• Yoon JY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary soluble fibers added to nasogastric tube-fed formulas and to compare the difference of the degree of diarrhea according to the amount of dietary soluble fibers in stroke or traumatic brain injury patients for comprehensive rehabilitative management. METHOD: Fifty-two stroke or traumatic brain injury patients fed by nasogastric tube due to dysphagia were included. They received fiber-free formulas for the first 30 days and then they were randomly assigned to three groups, including the control (fiber-free) group, moderate fiber (3.5 gm fiber/L) group and high fiber (7 gm fiber/L) group. Each group received their respective formulas for the next 30 days. We compared diarrhea score and frequency.
RESULTS
In the control group, the degree of diarrhea was not changed with time. In the moderate and high fiber groups, daily diarrhea score and monthly diarrhea frequency were low compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, the incidence of pseudomembraneous colitis was low in fiber groups.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that adding dietary soluble fibers to nasogastric tube-fed formulas may be helpful to reduce the diarrhea and the development of pseudomembraneous colitis. The proper fiber amount will be determined through the following more case studies.

Keyword

Diarrhea; Dietary soluble fiber; Nasogastric tube feeding; Dysphagia; Brain injury

MeSH Terms

Brain Injuries*
Colitis
Deglutition Disorders
Diarrhea*
Humans
Incidence
Stroke*