Abstract
Effect of dietary fiber (DF) to obtain a confortable defecation was investigated using nine adult female in health. Meals used in this study contained the recommended energy (1900-2000Kcal/ day) in females of twenties with the fixed nutritional composition. Meals were divided into four different types; meals containing uncalculated quantity of DF (conventional meal) and meals with three different quantities of DF (10g, 20g and 30g/day). All subjects took three different DF meals one after another for 5 days for each. Intervals of 5 days or more with conventional meals were placed between each DF meal. The volume of stool and the frequency of defecation were increased by DF intake in a dose dependent manner. A regular defecation was obtained by DF meals (1/day for 20g DF and 1-2/day for 30g DF). Subjects with the chronic constipation also responded to meals with DF although an individual difference was shown. A stool appeared to be softened by a relatively large quantity of DF (>20g/day). A residual stool, abdominal full sensation, and anal pain on evacuation as accompanied symptoms with defecation were much less in meals containing DF 20g/day, while meals with DF 10g or 30g/day rather increased a symptom such as a residual stool compared with a conventional meal. In addition, all subjects complained an excess of volume of meals containing DF 30g/day. Concerning with effectiveness on bowel movement and accompanying symptoms, the present results suggest that meals containing DF 20g/day were the most suitable to obtain a confortable defecation. An individual difference in response to DF meal, however, requires a more detailed investigation.
