Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I don't think the comments about soluble fiber in the article are in contradiction to the NICE recommendations. NICE says "Healthcare professionals should review the fibre intake of people with IBS, adjusting (usually reducing) it while monitoring the effect on symptoms. People with IBS should be discouraged from eating insoluble fibre (for example, bran). If an increase in dietary fibre is advised, it should be soluble fibre such as ispaghula powder or foods high in soluble fibre (for example, oats)." It doesn't recommend soluble fibre, it just recommends that 'if' a fibre increase by a healthcare professional is suggested then soluble fibre should be considered.

If you look at the British GI Society's recommendations it says "A recent systematic review of 17 clinical trials concluded that the benefits of fibre in IBS were marginal and that insoluble fibre can make the condition worse" and "However, if it is felt that fibre supplementation is needed and this cannot be achieved by diet alone, then the soluble varieties (ispaghula, sterculia, or methyl cellulose) are probably the best choice." The Amercian College Gastroenterologist came to a similar conclusion. It seems there is a general concensus that 'if' a fiber recommendation is made then soluble fiber should be recommended.

Since I am D I use SF to slow gastric emptying and increase transit time which is the known benefits of SF. However, I have to be careful which SF I eat since some ferments rapidly (e.g. inulin and FOS) producing lots of gas. If I were C I would consider making a change. I would definitely curtail consumption of insoluble fiber in either case. However, I think I would make the change to soluble fiber slowly and see what happens.

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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS

The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
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