Fiber Supplementation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Résumé fourni par la source

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Fiber supplementation is widely used and recommended for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), however, there is no recent evidence synthesis. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of fiber supplements in IBS through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (inception to April 9, 2026). Trials that recruited adults with IBS and investigated fiber supplements compared with a suitable placebo control were included. Dichotomous clinical response data were summarized with risk ratios and 95% CIs. The review was registered prospectively on the international systematic review registry PROSPERO (CRD42024600758). RESULTS: = 78%) except for β-galacto-oligosaccharides, which improved symptoms. Subgroup analysis for IBS subtype was not possible for most outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Fiber supplementation, and psyllium specifically, leads to clinical response in IBS. Future RCTs should report outcomes for individual IBS subtypes or only recruit specific IBS subtypes to better enable identification of distinct patterns of response.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.