The effects of dietary fibre in a liquid diet on bowel function of mentally retarded individuals.

A soy polysaccharide at a level of 20-22.3 g/day was added to a liquid formula diet provided to constipated, tube-fed, nonambulant, severely or profoundly mentally retarded individuals. This amount of polysaccharide contained 15.6-17.4 g of dietary fibre or 4.9-5.5 g of neutral detergent fibre. The fibre formula was well tolerated by the subjects and increased stool size and improved stool consistency. At these levels of fibre and short duration of the study, defecation rate and need for elimination aids were unaffected. Transit times of 5 to 6 days were unchanged but mean daily stool weights increased to a level equivalent to low normal values for healthy adults on a low fibre intake.