title: Effect of dietary fiber on morphine-induced constipation in rats.
abstract: Morphine is used to alleviate chronic cancer pain. However, constipation is a major adverse effect that often detracts from the patient's quality of life. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of dietary fiber on morphine-induced constipation. Rats were fed on a normal diet or one containing either 10% or 20% apple fiber for two weeks before morphine was administered. In the control diet group, the fecal number and dry weight were decreased by treating with morphine in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the motility of the small and large intestines was reduced. The fecal number and weight were increased and the colon motility was promoted by dietary fiber, regardless of whether morphine was being administered. The dietary fiber increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum. These results suggest that dietary fiber has a preventative effect on morphine-induced constipation by increasing SCFAs in the cecum, and thereby promoting colon motility in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Hospital Pharmacy, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niwa
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Seiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Kiyofumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Mikio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nabeshima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D009294:Narcotics; D014867:Water; D009020:Morphine