‘Dietary fibre: an old concept in new light?‘ sponsored by Alpro

19th June 2018

To download a PDF of the presentation, click here.

 

You can find new resources including infographics and scientific fact sheets on the Alpro healthcare professional website http://bit.ly/2JWP2KG

  • This IHCAN webinar has been kindly sponsored by an educational grant from Alpro
  • Alpro’s science and nutrition team are dedicated to supporting the science and practice of plant-based eating for better health and planet.
  • You can find new resources including infographics and scientific fact sheets on the Alpro healthcare professional website https://www.alpro.com/healthprofessional/uk/home
  • For new information relating to plant based eating and fibre – the latest evidence and practice link to http://bit.ly/2JWP2KG

 

Q&A

Q1: How would you tackle constipation in a young child?
A1: There are many different causes of constipation in children, and therefore identifying the underlying cause is important for appropriate management. Potential causes can include dehydration, low fibre, toilet fears, evacuation disorder etc. If on review of dietary intake, there is no major clues, I would be hesitant to change their diet or recommend supplements before getting input from a child psychologist and biofeedback nurse/physio.  

Q2: Do you have any information on how fibre is broken down into different monosaccharides such as fucose, mannose or xylose and how this impacts our health?
A2: It is currently believed that most of these sugars are fermented by the microbes, producing short chain fatty acids. Some may escape fermentation and have direct benefits, but I am not aware of any studies in humans.

Q2: I am a newly qualified nutritional therapist. I have a client that has chronic fatigue and had surgery to remove 90% of her colon. How cautious are you to be with recommending a fibre diet as lack of community of microbiota as colon is reduced, as newly qualified it is such a complex issue.
A2: This is very complex case and I would always recommend referral to a clinical dietitian specialising in gastroenterology. In brief, the end of the small intestine is able to adapt and accommodate more microbes, similar to the colon. In saying that, there are specific nutrients to watch out for in addition to ensuring the patient is adequately nourished as the first priority to their nutrition. In some cases bowel rest may also be advised, with slow gradual reintroduction of fibre containing foods- again an individualised approach to these complex cases is essential.

Q3: What types of fibre would you suggest for clients diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis but presently in remission?
A3: If these don’t have any functional gut issues I would recommend getting fibre from a wide range of plant-based foods; supplements are not necessary.

Q4: If a patient has been put on the low FODMAP diet for a long time, how would you encourage recovery of gut microbiota?
A4: Slow gradual reintroduction of FODMAPs is important, particularly because many are prebiotic i.e. food for the good gut bugs. Also ensuring the client is confident and not anxious about the reintroduction is important.

 Q5: For IBS patients would you encourage wholegrains and vegetables over legumes?
A5: Not necessarily. I would not be excluding any of these foods as a general rule. Some patients don’t have issues with legumes, while other can only tolerate small amounts per sitting. The goal in IBS is to find the balance between managing symptoms and not being too restrictive. Thoroughly rinsing canned legumes (over cooked from dried) has been shown to have lower amounts of galacto-oligosaccharides (a type of fibre) and therefore often better tolerated in some with IBS.

 


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