Control of inflammatory bowel disease improves pregnancy outcomes

A leading gastroenterologist has warned that widespread myths about dietary fibre stop many people from eating enough high-fibre foods, putting them at risk of bowel disease.

"Fear of farting has become a reality for too many people," said Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of NSW, Terry Bolin, on the eve of the 2nd Tri-Nations Meeting in Gastroenterology.

"It is true that increasing fibre intake will produce more gas - that's a natural consequence," he said. "But it's a small price to pay for the contribution a high-fibre diet makes to protecting against colon diseases such bowel cancer and diverticular disease."

Professor Bolin will be one of the key speakers at a meeting of leading gastroenterologists from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa at the Tri-Nations Meeting in Mauritius from 20-26 March. The conference will be presented with the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal problems by experts around the world.

Professor Bolin, who is also President of the GUT Foundation, said that misunderstandings about how to incorporate more fibre in the diet could hinder attempts to improve eating patterns.

"A sudden increase in fibre intake such as wheat in the form of bread and pasta can cause abdominal bloating, discomfort and excessive flatulence," he said.

"This reaction is often erroneously attributed to wheat intolerance. The problems often resolve if fibre is introduced slowly with a gradual build up to the recommended daily intake of at least 30 grams a day. This allows the gut time to get used to the increase volume of gas produced from fibre digestion."

Although many people believe they eat a diet high in fibre, evidence shows that the average intake of dietary fibre is about half the recommended amount.

"This is largely due to misconceptions about sources of fibre," Professor Bolin said. "For example, salad vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber and celery are excellent sources of vitamins but they are often mistakenly believed to be high in dietary fibre. Other vegetables such as peas, beans, broccoli, corn and spinach are much better sources."

Other fibre fallacies centre on the role of bran and the false belief that more is better. There are many types of dietary fibre and unprocessed wheat bran is just one.

"Two tablespoons of unprocessed bran a day is plenty," he said. "Fibre should be eaten from a variety of sources so that both soluble and insoluble types are ingested. These include fruit, seeds, cereals, nuts, vegetables and legumes."

A recently-recognised starch known as 'resistant starch' is now thought to be at least as important as dietary fibre in digestion and maintaining a healthy bowel. Cold, cooked potato, such as potato salad, and rice cooked by the absorption method are excellent sources of resistant starch.

While the benefits of fibre are undisputed, a high-fibre diet may not necessarily be suitable for everyone. There is a small group of people in whom bloating is a persistent problem exacerbated by fibre.

"These cases usually occur in young women and are due to a disturbance in the part of the nervous system that senses distention and controls gut contractions," Professor Bolin said.

"This causes pain and difficulty in passing flatus. Other symptoms include cold hands and feet which turn white or blue in winter due to similar changes in blood vessel contraction."

However, for people who would like to try increasing fibre in their diet, eating a breakfast cereal high in fibre with a piece of fruit is a good way to begin.

"By starting the day this way, a person is more likely to achieve the recommended daily intake of fibre during the rest of the day," Professor Bolin said.

END

Contact:

Professor Terry Bolin
+61 417 715 684
+ 61 2 9398 3222   OR

Felicity Moffatt
Health Communications Australia
+ 61 418 677701