Only people who stopped all fiber felt less stomach pain—those who just cut back or kept eating fiber still had the same pain after six months.

Scientific Claim

In adults with idiopathic constipation, abdominal pain improves only in those who completely eliminate dietary fiber, while those who reduce or maintain fiber intake show no significant change in pain levels.

Original Statement

“Symptoms of abdominal pain only improved in patients who stopped fiber completely while those who continued on a high fiber diet or reduced fiber diet did not show any improvement (Table 2).”

From study:Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design cannot support claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design cannot establish causation or explain why only complete elimination helped. The association is valid, but the language implies a threshold effect that may be confounded.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.

Cohort Study

Human

The study found that both cutting out fiber completely and just eating less fiber helped people feel better — not just those who cut it out entirely, so the claim that only total elimination works is wrong.

Source Study

Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.

Score: 39

DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i33.4593

Similar Assertions

People with constipation who ate no fiber stopped straining to poop, while everyone who kept eating fiber still had to strain hard.

84%

Most people with chronic constipation chose to keep eating less fiber after trying it, because they felt better—only a few went back to eating lots of fiber.

83%

People with constipation who kept taking fiber pills or eating lots of whole grains didn’t feel better—even if they tried to change their habits, the fiber kept them feeling the same.

83%

This study shows that people with constipation don’t need fiber to poop normally—many felt better when they stopped eating it.

83%

Cutting fiber might help constipation because it makes poop smaller and less gas is made in the gut, so it’s easier to go and you don’t feel as bloated.

82%