Colonic transit after fibre supplementation in patients with haemorrhoids

Patients with haemorrhoids often complain of disturbed defaecation which might correspond either to too slow or too fast colonic transit. Colonic transit was determined using a new technique as the distribution of radiopaque markers on a film after a daily intake of 20 markers over 10 days. Nineteen out-patients with a history of haemorrhoids participated in the study. Colonic transit was measured before and after 6 weeks on a bran preparation (Fiberform, 10 g daily) or an ispagula bulk preparation (Lunelax, 10 g daily) in random order. The variation in the distribution of pellets in the colon within the groups was greater than during treatment with fibre preparations. In both cases a 'normalization' of the transit occurred with fibre. No difference was found between the effect of the two fibre preparations on colonic transit. Thus, such changes in transit could be anticipated when the dietary fibre of the diet is increased according to modern recommended dietary allowances.