Murphy, J., Stacey, D., Crook, J., Thompson, B., & Panetta, D. (2000). Testing control of radiation-induced diarrhea with a psyllium bulking agent: A pilot study. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 10(3), 96–100.
To study the effectiveness of psyllium fiber (Metamucil®) taken during pelvic radiation treatment for prostate or gynecological cancer
The experimental group received 1–2 teaspoons psyllium fiber. The control group did not receive any psyllium fiber. Patients in both groups were given a booklet titled “Nutritional Guidelines to Help Control Diarrhea.” Patients kept diaries from day 1 of recruitment through 28 days post-treatment, recording the number of bowel movements per day, consistency of stools, amount of antidiarrhea medication taken, and daily dose of psyllium fiber (for the experimental group).
This was a nonblinded, randomized controlled trial.
Psyllium fiber is a well-tolerated, low-cost, effective intervention for reducing the incidence and severity of radiation-induced diarrhea in patients undergoing pelvic radiation treatment for prostate or gynecologic cancer.