Dietary Fiber Intake in Children With Mild Inflammatory Bowel Disease not optimum

A new study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition aimed to estimate intake of total dietary fiber, and its soluble and insoluble fractions, by children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in comparison to healthy controls.

In this prospective controlled trial, food consumption data of 50 children with IBD (80% in clinical remission) and 50 healthy controls were collected, by using the 3-day diet record. The findings showed no statistically significant differences in age, weight, height, and BMI percentiles between the groups. The mean disease duration was found to be 3.5±2.5 years. The daily median dietary fiber intake in patients was 15.3±4.2g, whereas controls consumed about 14.1±3.6g/day – these differences were not statistically significant. The median intake of soluble fiber in the study group was 5.0g/day and in controls 4.7g/day. Meanwhile, the intake of insoluble fractions was 10.2g/day as compared to 9.7g/day in the control group. Moreover, the total fiber intake significantly increased with age and was higher among boys in each age group. It was also noted that boys could achieve adequate intake (AI) recommendations better. However, children with IBD as well as healthy controls didn't meet the AI recommendations. Hence, it was concluded that intake of fiber in patients with IBD and healthy controls was comparable, yet lower than recommended.

Tags: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gastroenterology, Pediatrics, Nutrition

Reference1. Pituch-Zdanowska A, Albrecht P, Banasiuk M, Banaszkiewicz A. Dietary Fiber Intake in Children in Remission Or With Mild Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2017. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000001736.