Use of fiber instead of laxative treatment in a geriatric hospital to improve the wellbeing of seniors.
BACKGROUND
Constipation is a common problem in the elderly population, especially in geriatric wards. Laxatives are the most preferred solution but current studies link constipation and laxative use to weight-loss and malnutrition in nursing homes. Dietary fibers also affect stool weight and transit time. So, oat-bran effectiveness in reducing the need for bowel medication and weight-loss for geriatric care patients was examined in a geriatric hospital.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the addition of oat-bran to common oral diet can reduce the use of laxatives and improve the wellbeing and bodyweight of the inhabitants of a long-term-care facility.


METHODS
The study was designed as a controlled blind intervention trial among 30 frail inhabitants of a geriatric hospital aged 57-100 years with laxative use. Including criteria were: oral food intake and laxatives as therapy and excluding criteria were: parenteral and enteral feeding, surgeries in the gastro- intestinal tract, drugs that shorten or lengthen the passage through the gut, risk of aspiration, swallowing troubles. An intervention and a control group were formed. 15 of them received 7-8 g oat-bran/d for 12 weeks (fiber group) mixed up in the daily common diet of the ward and 15 served as control (control group).


METHODS
Bodyweight was taken at baseline, after 6 weeks and at the end of the supplementation. Data on laxative use, stool frequency and the eating habits of the elderly were recorded.


RESULTS
Laxatives were successfully discontinued by 59% (p < 0.001) in the fiber-group; in the control-group there was an increase of 8% (p=0.218). Bodyweight remained constant in the fiber-group and decreased in the control-group (p=0.002). The oat-fiber supplementation in the introduced form was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of oat-fiber allowed discontinuation of laxatives by 59% while improving body-weight and wellbeing of the seniors. Fiber supplementation is a safe and convenient alternative to laxatives in a geriatric hospital.
Sturtzel
B
B
Department of Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Mikulits
C
C
Gisinger
C
C
Elmadfa
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018554:Avena; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003248:Constipation / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012639:Seeds
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D054368:Laxatives; D028321:Plant Preparations