Dietary fibre and gastrointestinal disease.

This review examines the evidence linking dietary fibre to gastrointestinal disease. Fibre increases stool weight, decreases whole gut transit time and lowers colonic intraluminal pressure. While it may be of benefit in the treatment of constipation, the irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease, its role in the prevention or treatment of other gastrointestinal disease has yet to be established.