SynthesisThe American journal of clinical nutrition2022
The Effect of Fiber Supplementation on Chronic Constipation in Adults: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 59 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
59 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- British Dietetic Association Guidelines for the Dietary Management of Chronic Constipation in Adults.Neurogastroenterology and motility · 2025Guideline
- British Dietetic Association Guidelines for the Dietary Management of Chronic Constipation in Adults.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2025Guideline
- Physical activity and constipation: A systematic review of cohort studies.Journal of global health · 2024Pooled it
- The effectiveness of a plant-based milk with fermented brown rice on constipation symptoms via gut microbiota modulation: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.European journal of nutrition · 2026Trial
- A Heat-Inactivated Two-StrainNutrients · 2026Trial
- Trial
- The effects of waxy barley on defecation, sleep, mental health, and quality of life: a randomized double-blind parallel-group comparison study.Journal of physiological anthropology · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Management of constipation: A narrative review of evolving strategies and methodological challenges.World journal of methodology · 2026Review
- Prevalence and biopsychosocial associations of functional constipation: a cross-sectional study among adults in Türkiye.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Article
- Immunological and periodontal benefits of prebiotic polydextrose in rats with induced periodontitis.Journal of periodontology · 2026Article
- Dietary fiber in pediatric gastrointestinal health: a narrative review of evidence and challenges.Clinical and experimental pediatrics · 2026Review
- Combination of Dietary Fibers From Different Food Origins as a Treatment for Adults With Functional Constipation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Food science & nutrition · 2026Article
- Dietary Fiber and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Obesity Management: Converging Mechanisms, Interactions, and Strategies for Durable Weight Control.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2026Review
- Dietary Therapies for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Review
- Diagnosis and treatment of slow-transit constipation.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Review
- The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of gut health.Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2026Article
- Article
- Effects of Three Microbiome-Based Therapies on Loperamide-Induced Constipation in Mice by Restoring Intestinal Motility and Modulating the Intestinal Microbiota.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundChronic constipation is a prevalent disorder that remains challenging to treat. Studies suggest increasing fiber intake may improve symptoms, although recommendations on the fiber type, dose, and treatment duration are unclear.
objectivesWe investigated the effects of fiber supplementation on stool output, gut transit time, symptoms, and quality of life in adults with chronic constipation via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
methodsStudies were identified using electronic databases, backward citation, and hand searches of abstracts. RCTs reporting administration of fiber supplementation in adults with chronic constipation were included. Risks of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Results were synthesized using risk ratios (RRs), mean differences, or standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs using a random-effects model.
resultsSixteen RCTs with 1251 participants were included. Overall, 311 of 473 (66%) participants responded to fiber treatment and 134 of 329 (41%) responded to control treatment [RR: 1.48 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.88; P = 0.001); I2 = 57% (P = 0.007)], with psyllium and pectin having significant effects. A higher response to treatment was apparent in fiber groups compared to control groups irrespective of the treatment duration, but only with higher fiber doses (>10 g/d). Fiber increased stool frequency [SMD: 0.72 (95% CI: 0.36, 1.08; P = 0.0001); I2 = 86% (P < 0.00001)]; psyllium and pectin had significant effects, and improvement was apparent only with higher fiber doses and greater treatment durations (≥4 weeks). Fiber improved stool consistency (SMD: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.46; P < 0.0001), particularly with higher fiber doses. Flatulence was higher in fiber groups compared to control groups(SMD: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.13; P < 0.00001).
conclusionsFiber supplementation is effective at improving constipation. Particularly, psyllium, doses >10 g/d and treatment durations of at least 4 weeks appear optimal, though caution is needed when interpreting the results due to considerable heterogeneity. These findings provide promising evidence on the optimal type and regime of fiber supplementation, which could be used to standardize recommendations to patients. The protocol for this review is registered at PROSPERO as CRD42020191404.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.