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Constipation is an important problem in older patients, who are often chronic users of laxatives. Dietary fiber is becoming more important in treating gastrointestinal disorders. In studying the drug profiles of 52 elderly patients in a chronic care unit, we found that a large percentage were taking laxatives. We therefore wanted to compare the effect of a diet enriched with bran to the effect of an emollient laxative, docusate sodium. Patients were divided into two groups. For the first three weeks, one group received a diet with 15 g/day natural wheat bran added, plus a placebo, and the other received 200 mg/day docusate sodium. In the second three weeks, the groups were switched to the other treatment. After the 42 days of the study, the number of stools per day per patient did not differ significantly, whether they had been taking bran or laxatives. Otherwise, transit times revealed that those who had taken bran had a more rapid transit time than those who had taken laxatives. These results show the efficacy of dietary fiber, particularly wheat bran, in prevention and correction of constipation in the elderly.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes