Starch-Entrapped Microsphere Fibers Improve Bowel Habit and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in those with Unsatisfactory Bowel Movements in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled, Dose-Ranging Human Trial. feces metagenome

Approximately one-third of individuals in the US experience unsatisfactory bowel movements (BMs), and dietary intake, especially one low in fiber, could be partly responsible. While current dietary treatments for those with unsatisfactory BMs primarily focus on the inclusion of dietary fiber, attention to the function and efficacy of individual fibers in patient care is limited. Thus, investigation into alternate fibers to improve BMs and gut milieu is warranted. The objective of this study was to determine if a “designer” fermentable fiber (starch-entrapped microspheres, SM) that has a delayed, slow fermentation profile in vitro is tolerable and can regulate BMs compared to psyllium in healthy participants with constipation. The hypothesis of this study was that SM is an effective treatment for regulating BMs and is better tolerated than psyllium. A total of 43 healthy volunteers completed a 3-month, double-blind, parallel-arm randomized clinical trial. Participants consumed 12 g psyllium, 9 g SM, or 12 g SM. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including stool consistency and frequency, quality of life, stool microbiota composition, and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were assessed before and after treatment. Stool frequency and bowel habit improved in all groups after three months, but stool consistency improved only in both SM groups compared to psyllium. Both psyllium and SM resulted in minimal changes in microbiota and SCFA. The present study suggests that supplementation with a delayed and slow-fermenting fiber may improve bowel habit in those with constipation, but further investigation is warranted to determine capacity to alter microbiota and fermentation profiles.