Dietary fiber in irritable bowel syndrome (Review).
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing mechanisms and clinical concepts without systematic search or meta-analytic data
PubMed 28731144 · doi:10.3892/ijmm.2017.3072
What was done
This narrative review synthesized physiological mechanisms and clinical rationale regarding different dietary fiber types in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), focusing on physicochemical properties, fermentation rates, and symptom outcomes.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative metrics or statistical values. Qualitatively, it reports that short-chain, highly fermentable soluble fibers (such as oligosaccharides) generate rapid gas production that can cause abdominal pain, distension, and flatulence in IBS. Conversely, long-chain, soluble, intermediate-viscous, and moderately fermentable fibers (such as psyllium) result in low gas production, improve overall IBS symptoms, increase fecal mass, and stimulate colonic motility and mucosal function via fermentation byproducts like short-chain fatty acids.
Why it matters
Broad recommendations to increase generic dietary fiber in IBS can be counterproductive; clinical guidance should distinguish between rapidly fermentable fibers that provoke symptoms and soluble, moderately fermentable fibers like psyllium that provide symptom relief.
Limits
The abstract contains no empirical trial data, effect sizes, search methodology, or study counts. As a narrative review, it lacks systematic quality appraisal and risk-of-bias assessment, and it does not report outcome differences across specific IBS subtypes (such as IBS-C versus IBS-D).
Cited by
- supports Consuming excess fiber can cause fermentation imbalances and excessive gas production in individuals with gut dysbiosis.