[Fiber intake and colonic transit time in functional constipated patients].
BACKGROUND
Patients with functional constipation presenting no response to treatment using fibers supplement represents important clinical issue.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relations among the amount of ingested fiber, the constipation intensity and the colonic transit time in patients with functional constipation.


METHODS
We evaluated 30 patients, presenting no response to treatment using fibers supplement, and 18 healthy volunteers conducting individual inquiry into fibers intake, constipation intensity and the total and segmental colonic transit evaluation using radiopaque markers.


RESULTS
In the constipated, despite the good level of fiber intake (26.3 +/- 12.9 g, constipated x 9.3 +/- 5,2 g, control), the symptoms of constipation was serious (score = 21.3 +/- 4.07). Mean total colonic transit was 58.8h. The colonic transit was slower in the constipated group (41.0 +/- 22.8 hours, constipated x 21.8 +/- 18.5h, control). In constipated patients with slow colonic transit (>58.8h) there were colonic inertia (eight), outlet constipation (one) and slow transit in left colon (one), and among constipated patients with normal colonic transit (<58.8h), there were isolated slow transit, in the right colon (nine), left colon (three) and in the rectosigmoid segment (eight). There were no relation among the amount of ingested fiber, constipation intensity and the colon transit.


CONCLUSIONS
In the functional constipation the gravity of symptoms does not depend only on the dietary fibers intake, which is not the only responsible for the differences in the colonic transit. The colonic transit can differentiate normal from constipated patients and, among them, those with altered transit that demand approaches distinct of fiber supplementation.
Lopes
Adriana Cruz
AC
Disciplina Metabolismo e Nutrição, Fisiopatologia e Dietoterapia, Faculdade Assis Gurgacz, Cascavel, PR, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP. alnutricao@yahoo.com.br
Victoria
Carlos Roberto
CR
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; D004043:Dietary Fiber