Abstract
Background: In addition to increasing stool weight, supplements of psyllium seed husk produce stools that are slick and gelatinous. Objective: Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that a gel-forming fraction of psyllium escapes microbial fermentation and is responsible for the characteristics that enhance laxation. Design: Fifteen healthy adults consumed controlled diets for two 7-d periods, one of which included 8.8 g dietary fiber provided by 15 g/d of a psyllium seed husk preparation. All stools were collected and evaluated and diet was monitored throughout. Results: Psyllium significantly increased the apparent viscosity of an aqueous stool extract, stool moisture, and wet and dry stool weights. A very viscous fraction, not present in low-fiber stool and containing predominantly 2 sugars that are also found in abundance in psyllium husk, was isolated from psyllium stool. Conclusions: In contrast with other viscous fibers that are fermented completely in the colon, a component of psyllium is not fermented. This gel provided lubrication that facilitated propulsion of colon contents and produced a stool that was bulkier and more moist than were stools resulting with use of comparable amounts of other bowel-regulating fiber sources.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 784-789 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 2000 |
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Keywords
- Colon function
- Constipation
- Dietary fiber
- Fermentation
- Laxation
- Plantago ovata
- Psyllium seed husk
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Food Science
Cite this
An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans. / Tallkvist, Jonas; Bowlus, Christopher; Lönnerdal, Bo.
In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72, No. 3, 2000, p. 784-789.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An unfermented gel component of psyllium seed husk promotes laxation as a lubricant in humans
AU - Tallkvist, Jonas
AU - Bowlus, Christopher
AU - Lönnerdal, Bo
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Background: In addition to increasing stool weight, supplements of psyllium seed husk produce stools that are slick and gelatinous. Objective: Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that a gel-forming fraction of psyllium escapes microbial fermentation and is responsible for the characteristics that enhance laxation. Design: Fifteen healthy adults consumed controlled diets for two 7-d periods, one of which included 8.8 g dietary fiber provided by 15 g/d of a psyllium seed husk preparation. All stools were collected and evaluated and diet was monitored throughout. Results: Psyllium significantly increased the apparent viscosity of an aqueous stool extract, stool moisture, and wet and dry stool weights. A very viscous fraction, not present in low-fiber stool and containing predominantly 2 sugars that are also found in abundance in psyllium husk, was isolated from psyllium stool. Conclusions: In contrast with other viscous fibers that are fermented completely in the colon, a component of psyllium is not fermented. This gel provided lubrication that facilitated propulsion of colon contents and produced a stool that was bulkier and more moist than were stools resulting with use of comparable amounts of other bowel-regulating fiber sources.
AB - Background: In addition to increasing stool weight, supplements of psyllium seed husk produce stools that are slick and gelatinous. Objective: Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that a gel-forming fraction of psyllium escapes microbial fermentation and is responsible for the characteristics that enhance laxation. Design: Fifteen healthy adults consumed controlled diets for two 7-d periods, one of which included 8.8 g dietary fiber provided by 15 g/d of a psyllium seed husk preparation. All stools were collected and evaluated and diet was monitored throughout. Results: Psyllium significantly increased the apparent viscosity of an aqueous stool extract, stool moisture, and wet and dry stool weights. A very viscous fraction, not present in low-fiber stool and containing predominantly 2 sugars that are also found in abundance in psyllium husk, was isolated from psyllium stool. Conclusions: In contrast with other viscous fibers that are fermented completely in the colon, a component of psyllium is not fermented. This gel provided lubrication that facilitated propulsion of colon contents and produced a stool that was bulkier and more moist than were stools resulting with use of comparable amounts of other bowel-regulating fiber sources.
KW - Colon function
KW - Constipation
KW - Dietary fiber
KW - Fermentation
KW - Laxation
KW - Plantago ovata
KW - Psyllium seed husk
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033839009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033839009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 10966900
AN - SCOPUS:0033839009
VL - 72
SP - 784
EP - 789
JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
SN - 0002-9165
IS - 3
ER -