Serum lipid response to dietary cholesterol in subjects fed a low-fat, high-fiber diet.

To determine whether hyperresponse to dietary cholesterol occurs in individuals consuming a low-fat diet, a study was performed on 58 subjects whose plasma cholesterol had changed by greater than or equal to 5% when intakes of two and seven eggs per week were compared in a previous study. Here, the effect of eating nine, zero, and nine eggs per week was studied over 3 consecutive months. Plasma total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol did not differ significantly. There was no correlation between individuals' lipoprotein changes in this and the previous study. Consistent hyperresponse to moderate cholesterol intake is not apparent in people eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Reduction in dietary cholesterol below 400 mg/d produces no further substantial cholesterol lowering.

Bowel function of long-term tube-fed patients consuming formulae with and without dietary fiber.

Diarrhea, constipation and subsequent laxative use are chronic problems in long-term enterally fed patients. We have conducted a double-blind randomized crossover study to evaluate the effects of two enteral formulae (Enrich, 12.8 g of dietary fiber per 1000 kcal and Ensure, fiber-free) on stool frequency, fecal weight, laxative use, gastrointestinal tolerance and bowel function in chronic care tube-fed patients. Twenty-eight subjects (24 male, 4 female) completed the study. Mean daily number of stools and mean daily fecal wet weight in Enrich-fed patients were not significantly different from those of patients receiving Ensure. Ensure-fed patients required significantly more laxatives (p = 0.02) than those receiving Enrich. There were 26 reports of diarrhea in the Ensure-fed group as compared to 6 in the Enrich-fed group, and this difference was significant (p = 0.006). Reporting rates for constipation were not significantly different in the two groups. At the end of the study, the bowel function of 57.1% of patients receiving Enrich was improved when compared with that of 14.3% of Ensure-fed patients, and this difference was significant (p = 0.005). These results suggest that the addition of dietary fiber to enteral formulae improves gastrointestinal tolerance and bowel function, and reduces laxative use in long-term enterally fed patients.