Dietary Fiber and Long-Term Large Bowel Response in Enterally Nourished Nonambulatory Profoundly Retarded Youth

The objective of this year-long research was to determine the effects of three levels of a purified dietary fiber source, soy polysaccharide, on the long-term bowel function of 11 youth, aged 7 to 17 years, who were nonambulatory, profoundly disabled, constipated, and fed by gastrostomy. From day 1 to 60 the diet was a fiber-free enteral feeding; from day 61 to 300, 12 to 20 g/day total fiber was added to the diet; and from day 301 to 360, 18 to 25 g/day. Complete stool collections were made from day 51 to 60, day 111 to 120, day 291 to 300, day 321 to 330, and day 351 to 360. The second fiber addition significantly increased mean (±SD) daily stool frequency from 0.6 ± 0.2 during the fiber-free diet to 1.1 ± 0.5. The first addition of fiber compared to the fiber-free diet significantly increased stool moisture from 70 ± 7% to 76 ± 8% and wet stool weight from 30 ± 13 g/day to 53 ± 21; mean stool weight during days 351 to 360 was 87 ± 45 g/day. Daily dry stool weight significantly increased with the second fiber addition. Soy polysaccharide fiber improved bowel function in this nonambulatory profoundly disabled population.