Increment of Fecal Weight and Improvement of Bowel Function by Dietary Fiber Rich Cereal-based Breakfast in Normal Subjects

The effects of dietary fiber rich cereal-based breakfast on the increment of fecal wet weight, defecation rate and condition of evacuation were investigated in normal subjects (n=36) and the data of 29 subjects selected from 36 subjects were used for the evaluation. The study design was crossover experiment for continuous 1 weeks, and the subjects consumed 2 different test cereal flakes (cereal A, B) in random order in their breakfast. Total dietary fiber contents of the test cereals for three trials were 6.4g for cereal A 40g, 9.6g for cereal A 60g and 5.Og for cereal B 60g, respectively. The cookie as the control does not contain dietary fiber. The results obtained were as follows ;1) The fecal wet weight significantly increased with cereal A 40g, A60g and also cereal B60g and the increment was dependent on the total dietary fiber contents of the test cereals, comparing to the control . 2) The defecation rate of days and times per week were significantly increased with cereal A40g, A60g and cereal B60g, comparing of the control, respectively. 3) The condition of evacuation such as fecal form, color and smell were significantly improved in cereal A 40g and cereal A60g ingestions. 4) The wet weight of feces which makes feel defecation every day was approximately 150g. We concluded that dietary fiber rich cereal-based breakfast has a fecal bulking effect and the improvement of condition of the evacuation in the additional ingestion of 5.0-6.4g of dietary fiber in a day.