title: Pilot study of the efficacy of spent grain dietary fiber in the treatment of constipation.
abstract: Spent grain is the crude fiber obtained by decanting the fermented distillate of barley. The spent grain was processed to yield dietary fiber composed of: cellulose and hemicellulose 65.6% (by weight), lignin 5.2%, pectin 2.2%, protein 10.9% and lipid 8.0%. Biscuits and scones were prepared by 25% substitution of wheat flour by fiber, yielding 7 to 8 g fiber per biscuit/scone. Nineteen ambulatory patients with chronic, laxative-dependent constipation were treated in a pilot study for 4 weeks with 20 to 25 g fiber daily. Fifteen patients (79%) showed improvement in some or all of five factors, while four patients were largely unresponsive to fiber. Specific symptoms improved as follows: bowel movement frequency in 15 patients (79%), flatulence in 12 (63%), abdominal pain in 10 (53%), stool consistency in 8 (42%) and laxative dependence in 14 (74%). A 4-week post-treatment follow-up showed a return to prefiber status in 11 of 13 improved subjects. This preliminary study suggests a role for spent grain fiber in the treatment of constipated patients, and a comparative study with placebo and wheat fiber is now warranted.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002400:Cathartics / Q000502:physiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002523:Edible Grain; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D001467:Hordeum; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005740:Gases