Absence of effect on faecal microflora of long-term supplementation of dietary fibres in juvenile ulcerative colitis.

In a long-term double-blind cross-over study, ten patients aged 10-18 years with juvenile ulcerative colitis were studied before and after six months supplementation of dietary fibre (wheat fibre and ispaghula). All patients had been in remission for 0.5 to 2 years and orally treated with sulfasalazine, but none were taking steroids. The type of fibre intake was randomized and the periods separated by a 6-month wash-out period with placebo. The average intake of both wheat fibre and ispaghula was 16 g per day. Faecal samples were collected before and after each fibre period and analysed by quantitative and qualitative microbiological techniques. No significant changes in bacterial species were found in the faecal microflora. The results indicate that effects of fibre on human metabolism in patients with ulcerative colitis treated with sulfasalazine are not mediated by changes in the intestinal microflora.