Effects of cereal fiber on bowel function: A systematic review of intervention trials

Table 1 Summary of comparisons for different intact cereal dietary fibers and bowel function outcomes

	Source of intact fiber
	Wheat	Barley	Corn	Oat	Rice	Rye	Sorghum
Total stool weight
Observations1, n	75	3	4	1	2	2	1
Fiber intervention (g/d), mean ± SD or range2	15.2 ± 8.3	10.2, 23	6.0, 42	14.3	17.1, 20.7	13, 20.6	2.5
Dry stool weight
Observations, n	40	1	3	1	1	1	-
Fiber intervention (g/d), mean ± SD or range2	14.7 ± 8.5	21	6, 42	14.3	20.7	20.6	-
Fecal water
Observations, n	30	3	2	-	1	-	-
Level of fiber interv. (g/d), mean ± SD or range2	16.0 ± 7.4	10.2, 23	15, 42	-	20.7	-	-
Stool frequency
Observations, n	34	2	2	-	2	2	1
Fiber intervention (g/d), mean ± SD or range2	13.6 ± 6.4	21, 23	15, 42	-	17.1, 20.7	20.6, 36.4	2.5
Transit time
Observations, n	52	-	-	1	2	1	1
Fiber intervention (g/d), mean ± SD or range2	14.8 ± 8,6	-	-	2.7	17.1, 20.7	20.6	2.5

¹May include > 1 observation from studies examining > 1 dose of intact cereal dietary fiber;

²Fiber intakes are shown as mean ± SD of all observations if > 5 observations were available, the range of values from individual studies if 2-4 observations were available, and a single estimate if only one observation was available.