Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2013 Jun;59(2):217-30.

Fiber .... in the therapy of chronic constipation.

Stanghellini V1, Bellacosa L, Cogliandro R.

• 1Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy - v.stanghellini@unibo.it.

Abstract

Chronic constipation is a common condition in the general population. Although the majority of affected individuals do not seek medical consultation and search for remedies for their condition in the pharmacy or herbal shops, the actual health burden caused by this condition is extremely high. Many laxatives are available, but patients are often dissatisfied with the therapies adopted, whether prescribed by a doctor or self prescribed, and this leads to further social and health burdens. All of the available guidelines promote initiating the therapy of any type of constipation by ensuring an adequate intake of dietary fiber and water. However, high amounts of insoluble vegetable fiber such as those normally contained in fruits and vegetables, can lead to a further worsening of the digestive symptoms typical of chronic constipation, such as bloating and distension and pain. Better results can be obtained with soluble fibers, such as psyllium.

PMID:  23831912