Consuming foods with added oligofructose improves stool frequency: a randomised trial in healthy young adults

• Published in: Journal of nutritional science (Cambridge) 2014-01, Vol.3, p.e7-e7, Article e7
• Main Authors: Dahl, Wendy J., Wright, Arnelle R., Specht, Gretchen J., Christman, Mary, Mathews, Anne, Meyer, Diederick, Boileau, Thomas, Willis, Holly J., Langkamp-Henken, Bobbi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fibre; Gastrointestinal symptoms; Human and Clinical Nutrition; Oligofructose; Stool frequency
• ISSN: 2048-6790; 2048-6790
• DOI: 10.1017/jns.2014.6

The impact of oligofructose (OF) intake on stool frequency has not been clearly substantiated, while significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have been reported in some individuals. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of OF on stool frequency and GI symptoms in healthy adults. In an 8-week, randomised, double-blind, parallel-arm study, ninety-eight participants were provided with 16 g OF in yogurt and snack bars (twenty male and thirty female) or matching control foods (seventeen male and thirty-one female), to incorporate, by replacement, into their usual diets. Participants completed a daily online questionnaire recording stool frequency and rating four symptoms: bloating, flatulence, abdominal cramping and noise, each on a Likert scale from ‘0’ for none (no symptoms) to ‘6’ for very severe, with a maximum symptom intensity score of 24 (sum of severities from all four symptoms). Online 24 h dietary recalls were completed during pre-baseline and weeks 4, 6 and 8 to determine fibre intake. When provided with OF foods, fibre intake increased to 24·3 (sem 0·5) g/d from pre-baseline (12·1 (sem 0·5) g/d; P