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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
12:33

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

Published on: November 15, 2013

[Not Available].

D L Savary, A Garon

    Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
    |February 2, 2011
    PubMed
    Summary

    Dietary fiber, specifically wheat bran, effectively improves constipation in elderly patients by speeding up transit time. This natural approach offers a valuable alternative to laxatives for managing chronic constipation in seniors.

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    Area of Science:

    • Gerontology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Nutrition Science

    Context:

    • Constipation is a prevalent issue among elderly individuals, frequently managed with laxative medications.
    • Elderly patients in chronic care settings often exhibit high rates of laxative use.
    • Dietary fiber is increasingly recognized for its role in managing gastrointestinal health.

    Purpose:

    • To compare the efficacy of dietary wheat bran versus the emollient laxative docusate sodium in treating constipation in elderly patients.
    • To evaluate the impact of wheat bran and docusate sodium on stool frequency and colonic transit time.

    Summary:

    • A 42-day study involved 52 elderly patients, divided into two groups, alternating between a diet supplemented with 15g/day of natural wheat bran and 200mg/day of docusate sodium.
    • While daily stool frequency did not significantly differ between treatments, wheat bran supplementation resulted in a more rapid colonic transit time compared to docusate sodium.
    • Patients experienced a crossover in treatments after three weeks, allowing for a within-subject comparison.

    Impact:

    • Wheat bran demonstrates efficacy in both preventing and correcting constipation in the elderly population.
    • Highlights the therapeutic potential of dietary fiber, particularly wheat bran, as a constipation management strategy for older adults.
    • Suggests a shift towards dietary interventions for chronic constipation in geriatric care.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

    High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
    12:33

    High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities

    Published on: November 15, 2013