[Meta-analysis on the relationship among fiber of grain and intestinal motility and symptoms]

To study the relationship among fiber of grain and intestinal motility and symptoms.

To search all related data of randomized controlled trials about fiber of grain on intestinal motility and symptoms published before Jul, 2013, screen trials according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extract data and evaluate quality by two independent researchers, and analyze data by Meta-analysis using RevMan 5.2 software.

Thirteen researches with 739 subjects were included. According to Meta-analysis, consumption of grain fiber had more frequency of defaecation (WMD = 0.10, 95% CI 0.02 - 0.18, P < 0.05), less intestinal transit time (WMD = - 6.36, 95% CI -11.53 (-) - 1.20, P < 0.05), more fecal wet weight (WMD = 51.52. 95% CI 31.00 - 72.04, P < 0.05) than control, similar bowel side effects (SMD = 0.06, 95% CI - 0.04 - 0.16, P = 0.267), and had higher functional bowel disorder remission rate when using per protocol analysis (RR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.00 - 1.44, P =0.05 ). However, there was no significant increase of functional bowel disorder remission rate (RR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.95 - 1.41, P = 0.14) when using intention to treat analysis.

Fiber of grain may have a positive impact on intestinal motility and no adding gastrointestinal side-effect, but may have an uncertain influence on functional bowel disorders.