Cited by 77Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseGastrointestinal motility and disordersFood composition and properties

Low-Residue and Low-Fiber Diets in Gastrointestinal Disease Management

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Vanhauwaert, Erika, Matthys, Christophe, Verdonck, Lies, De Preter, Vicky·2015·Advances in Nutrition

Abstract

Recently, low-residue diets were removed from the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Nutrition Care Manual due to the lack of a scientifically accepted quantitative definition and the unavailability of a method to estimate the amount of food residue produced. This narrative review focuses on defining the similarities and/or discrepancies between low-residue and low-fiber diets and on the diagnostic and therapeutic values of these diets in gastrointestinal disease management. Diagnostically, a low-fiber/low-residue diet is used in bowel preparation. A bowel preparation is a cleansing of the intestines of fecal matter and secretions conducted before a diagnostic procedure. Therapeutically, a low-fiber/low-residue diet is part of the treatment of acute relapses in different bowel diseases. The available evidence on low-residue and low-fiber diets is summarized. The main findings showed that within human disease research, the terms "low residue" and "low fiber" are used interchangeably, and information related to the quantity of residue in the diet usually refers to the amount of fiber. Low-fiber/low-residue diets are further explored in both diagnostic and therapeutic situations. On the basis of this literature review, the authors suggest redefining a low-residue diet as a low-fiber diet and to quantitatively define a low-fiber diet as a diet with a maximum of 10 g fiber/d. A low-fiber diet instead of a low-residue diet is recommended as a diagnostic value or as specific therapy for gastrointestinal conditions.

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  • In patients with irritable bowel syndrome, a low fiber diet may be an effective treatment to relieve symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramps, and distension.

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Authors
Vanhauwaert, E., Matthys, C., Verdonck, L., & De Preter, V.
Affiliations
  • University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (BE)
  • Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
Corresponding author
Vanhauwaert, Erika
Venue
Advances in Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-11
Volume
6
Issue
6
Pages
820-827
ISSN
  • 2156-5376 (ISSN-L)
  • 2161-8313
OpenAlex
W2174718193
Cited by
77
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
0.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Advances in Nutrition (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
Keywords
low-residue diet, low-fiber diet, dietary fiber, bowel preparation
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Colonoscopy, Diet, Dietary Fiber, Digestion, Feces, Fermentation, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans

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