Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Soluble vs Insoluble references

Maurac,

As promised here are a couple of references with links to the abstract on articles about the value of soluble vs insoluble fiber in the management of IBS.

This reference is perhaps the oldest reference to raise a red flag about the problems of bran for managing IBS.

Francis, C. Y., & Whorwell, P. J. (1994). Bran and irritable bowel syndrome: Time for reappraisal. Lancet

There are dozens of other studies published since 1994. Here is one of the most recent studies.

Bijkerk, C. J., de Wit, N. J., Muris, J. W. M., Whorwell, P. J., Knottnerus, J. A., & Hoes, A. W. (2009). Soluble or insoluble fibre in irritable bowel syndrome in primary care? Randomised placebo controlled trial BMJ, 339, b3154

In a recent letter to the editor of the British Medical Journal titled "The problem of insoluble fibre in irritable bowel syndrome " by Prof. Whorwell, an internationally recognized UK IBS researcher, wrote in the last paragraph

With evidence based medicine and the rapid dissemination of research results to the media, we must still listen to what our patients are telling us, especially when the question is subtly different to the question that has been addressed by the evidence. And we must be extremely careful about the accuracy of what we write, especially in the abstract of a paper, as this is commonly the only part scanned by busy readers. Ford and colleagues' concluding statement in their abstract ignores the substantial differences between soluble and insoluble fibre, thus encouraging some patients to continue with a treatment, insoluble fibre, which at best is doing them no good but at worst may be doing them harm.

I hope this helps

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