High fibre diet in symptomatic diverticular disease of the colon

Over the past decade fibre supplementation has achieved widespread acceptance in the management of symptomatic diverticular disease, although the efficacy of this treatment has been debated. We have conducted a retrospective review of 72 patients admitted to hospital with symptomatic diverticular disease over a ten year period in order to determine whether or not high fibre diet afforded protection against the development of complications, necessity for surgery or persistence of symptoms. Fifty-six patients were treated non-operatively, of these 43 received advice concerning a high fibre diet but only 31 patients complied. The 12 patients who failed to take additional fibre and the 13 patients who never received dietary advice (25 patients) formed the non high fibre group. Those treated with fibre supplementation fared significantly better in developing fewer complications and required less surgery (P less than 0.05). At the time of follow-up review patients on a high fibre diet reported significantly fewer symptoms (P less than 0.05).