The Effect of Fiber Supplementation on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
nature publishing group CLINICAL AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 1 see related editorial on page x The Effect of Fiber Supplementation on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis REVIEW Paul Moayyedi , BSc, MB, ChB, PhD, MPH, FRCP, FRCPC, AGAF, FACG 1 , Eamonn M.M. Quigley , MD, FRCP, FACP, FACG, FRCPI 2 , Brian E. Lacy , MD, PhD, FACG3 , A n t h o n y J . L e m b o , M D , F A C G 4 , Yu r i A . S a i t o , M D , M P H , F A C G 5 , Lawrence R. Schiller , MD, FACP, FACG6 , E d y E . S o ff er , MD, FACG 7 , Brennan M.R. Spiegel , MD, MSHS, FACG8 and Alexander C. Ford , MB, ChB, MD 9 , 10 OBJECTIVES: Fiber has been used for many years to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This approach had fallen out of favor until a recent resurgence, which was based on new randomized controlled trial (RCT) data that suggested it might be effective. We have previously conducted a systematic review of fi ber in IBS, but new RCT data for fi ber therapy necessitate a new analysis; thus, we have conducted a systematic review of this intervention. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched up to December 2013. Trials recruiting adults with IBS, which compared fi ber supplements with placebo, control therapy, or “ usual management ” , were eligible. Dichotomous symptom data were pooled to obtain a relative risk (RR) of remaining symptomatic after therapy as well as number needed to treat (NNT) with a 95 % confi dence interval (CI).
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