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.

Scientific Claim

In adults with idiopathic constipation, the improvement in bowel frequency and reduction in bloating and straining after reducing dietary fiber are not observed in patients who continue to consume fiber supplements or high-fiber foods.

Original Statement

“Patients who continued on a high fiber diet had no change. ... Those who remained on a high fiber diet continued to have a mean of one motion per 6.83 d (± 1.03 d) before and after consultation (P = 1.00).”

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 claim implies fiber supplements are ineffective, but the study did not measure supplement use separately from dietary fiber. The association is valid, but the conclusion overgeneralizes.

More Accurate Statement

“In adults with idiopathic constipation, the improvement in bowel frequency and reduction in bloating and straining after reducing dietary fiber are not observed in patients who continue to consume high-fiber diets.”

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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

Cohort Study

Human

People with constipation felt better and went to the bathroom more often when they ate less fiber, but those who kept eating lots of fiber didn’t get any better.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

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.

92%

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

90%

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.

88%

For people who have trouble pooping and feel bloated, stopping all fiber-rich foods like veggies, fruits, and whole grains for six months helped them poop daily, stop straining, and feel less bloated.

87%

Most people who came in with constipation were already eating a lot of fiber—so they weren’t lacking it, which challenges the idea that fiber deficiency causes constipation.

87%