Jpen Parenter Enter
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Jpen Parenter Enter · Jul 1985
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of guar gum added to the diet of patients with duodenal ulcer.
In a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study, the effects of 5 g of guar gum, a dietary fiber composed of galactose and mannose, or placebo added to the diet of 20 patients with duodenal ulcer for 1 wk each were examined. Ten patients derived evident benefit and five some help from guar gum, on comparing symptoms during administration of guar gum with those experienced earlier or during the placebo week, whereas four patients found that neither guar gum nor placebo had any effect (p less than 0.001). The beneficial effect was associated with increased feelings of repletion after meals. ⋯ The diarrhea which occurs in some patients ingesting guar gum was avoided by giving low initial doses. In three patients unpalatability of guar gum was a minor complaint. It is concluded that guar gum is helpful to many patients with uncomplicated duodenal ulcer, but that it is harmful to those having increased gastric emptying, eg, pyloric stenosis patients, and that guar gum may exert its effects by increasing gastric emptying time.