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Dietary fibre and fluid in the control of constipation in a nursing home population
Author(s) -
Hope Alison K.,
Down Elizabeth C.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb128380.x
Subject(s) - constipation , medicine , bowel function , nursing homes , volunteer , nursing , population , environmental health , biology , agronomy
A 12‐month study showed that constipation in institutionalized elderly patients can be eliminated effectively and safely by the planned use of dietary fibre and a controlled fluid intake. The diet of a group of volunteer nursing home patients (average age, 83.5 years) was supplemented to provide a daily dietary fibre intake of 25 g per person. Aperient use was almost eliminated, bowel function improved, and there appeared to be no adverse effects on body weight, or on nutritional or mineral status.