Sturtzel, B., & Elmadfa, I. (2008). Intervention with dietary fiber to treat constipation and reduce laxative use in residents of nursing homes. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 52(Suppl. 1), 54–56.
To determine whether the addition of oat bran to the diets of older adult residents of a long-term care facility would lead to a reduction in laxative use.
The control group (15 patients assigned) received usual diet.
The intervention group had oat fiber containing 8.3 g of nondigestible fermentable fiber and 9.7 g of nondigestible nonfermentable fiber per 100 g incorporated into their diet for 12 weeks.
Single ward of a long-term care facility in Vienna, Austria
The study has clinical applicability to older adult care.
This was a controlled, parallel, blind intervention trial.
Fiber supplementation with oat bran may be an alternative to laxatives for treating constipation in an older adult population.
Increasing fiber supplementation with oat bran may be an alternative to laxative use for treating constipation in older adults. Additional study is warranted in a larger population that includes patients with cancer.