title: Randomized trial comparing 2 fiber regimens for the reduction of symptoms of constipation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : This study aimed to compare the effects of a special bowel recipe with psyllium on symptoms of constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Women with symptoms of constipation were randomized to 6 weeks of either psyllium or a special bowel recipe. Patients completed a constipation scoring questionnaire and recorded characteristics of each bowel movement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : A total of 53 participants completed prestudy and poststudy constipation scoring questionnaires. Both groups demonstrated improvement in constipation scores (psyllium: 13.9 ± 4.7 to 9.0 ± 4.6, P < 0.001; recipe: 13.6 ± 4.1 to 8.5 ± 5.0, P < 0.001). Mean differences in pretreatment and posttreatment constipation scores were not statistically different between the 2 groups.Subjects taking the bowel recipe strained only 20% of the time compared with those using psyllium who strained 57% of the time (P = 0.007). Other symptoms improved from baseline, but the majority was not different between treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : The bowel recipe demonstrated no significant difference in efficacy to pure fiber.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McIntire
authors.forename: Shanna D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Atnip
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dreadin
authors.forename: Mikio A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nihira
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Drewes
authors.forename: Joseph I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: Clifford Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wai