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Wheat bran

Wheat bran is the outer husk of the wheat grain. Wheat bran is also used for medicinal purposes.

Wheatbran is used as a source of dietary fiber to prevent intestinal diseases including colon cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, gallbladder disease, hemorrhoids and hiatal hernia. It is also used to treat constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

How does wheat bran work?

Wheat bran helps with constipation by increasing the speed of intestinal passage of food and increasing both the amount of stool and the frequency of bowel movements.

How effective is wheat bran?

Wheat bran may be effective for the following conditions

  • Constipation: Wheat bran appears to be effective in treating mild constipation and restoring normal bowel function. However, wheat bran does not appear to soften stools.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome: Taking wheat bran may reduce stomach pain and improve bowel function in people suffering from mild to moderate irritable bowel syndrome. However, wheat bran is probably not as effective as guar gum.
  • Lowering blood pressure: Taking wheat bran appears to cause a small but significant reduction in blood pressure.
  • Prevention of stomach cancer
  • Prevention of hemorrhoids

Wheat bran may be ineffective in the following applications:

  • Preventing colon and rectal cancer: several large studies with a well-designed study design concluded that dietary fiber, including wheat bran, does not prevent the occurrence of precancerous tumors, even though previous research suggested that dietary fiber might help.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Wheat bran intake does not appear to consistently improve blood glucose control. Furthermore, it does not improve blood pressure, blood lipid levels, homocysteine levels, C reactive protein or other factors associated with heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of wheat bran on breast cancer, gallbladder disease and hiatal hernia. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of wheat bran in these applications.

Safety and side effects

The use of wheat bran is safe and harmless for most people. However, it can cause bloating and stomach discomfort, especially when first used.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Wheat bran appears to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Oral:

  • For constipation: 20 to 25 grams of wheat bran per day. 40 grams per day does not appear to be more effective than 20 grams per day.
  • For the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: 30 grams of wheat bran per day for up to 12 weeks.
  • For high blood pressure: 3 to 6 grams of whole wheat flour, wheat flakes and brown rice in combination with a special dietary program (National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 1).

A so-called adequate amount of fiber per day was determined. This is 19 grams for children aged 1 to 3 years, 25 grams for children aged 4 to 8 years, 31 grams for boys aged 9 to 13 years, 38 grams for boys aged 14 to 18 years, 26 grams for girls aged 9 to 18 years, 38 grams for men aged 19 to 50 years, 30 grams for men over 51 years, 25 grams for women aged 19 to 50 years and 21 grams for women over 51 years. For pregnant women, the adequate amount of fiber per day is 28 grams and for breastfeeding women 29 grams. A maximum tolerated daily amount of fiber, defined as the highest amount of fiber at which no adverse effects are expected, has not been established.

References

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  2. Anon. Consensus statement on cereals, fiber and colorectal and breast cancers. Proceedings of the European Cancer Prevention consensus meeting. Santa Margheritia, Italy, October 2-5, 1997. Eur J Cancer Prev 1998;7:S1-83. view abstract.
  3. Anti M, Pignataro G, Armuzzi A, et al. Water supplementation enhances the effect of high-fiber diet on stool frequency and laxative consumption in adult patients with functional constipation. Hepatogastroenterology 1998;45:727-32.. View abstract.
  4. Badiali D, Corazziari E, Habib FI, et al. Effect of wheat bran in treatment of chronic nonorganic constipation. A double-blind controlled trial. Dig Dis Sci 1995;40:349-56. View abstract.
  5. Chandalia M, Garg A, Lutjohann D, et al. Beneficial effects of high dietary fiber intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med 2000;342:1392-8. view abstract.
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  7. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients). Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002. available at: http://www.nap.edu/books/0309085373/html/.
  8. Fuchs CS, Giovannucci EL, Colditz GA, et al. Dietary fiber and the risk of colorectal cancer and adenoma in women. N Engl J Med 1999;340:169-76. view abstract.
  9. Govers MJ, Gannon NJ, Dunshea FR, et al. Wheat bran affects the site of fermentation of resistant starch and luminal indexes related to colon cancer risk: a study in pigs. Gut 1999;45:840-7. view abstract.
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  13. Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, Augustin LS, et al. Effect of wheat bran on glycemic control and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2002;25:1522-8. View abstract.
  14. Jensen SL, Harling H, Tange G, et al. Maintenance bran therapy for prevention of symptoms after rubber band ligation of third-degree haemorrhoids. Acta Chir Scand 1988;154:395-98. view abstract.
  15. McRorie J, Kesler J, Bishop L, et al. Effects of wheat bran and Olestra on objective measures of stool and subjective reports of GI symptoms. Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:1244-52. view abstract.
  16. Parisi GC, Zilli M, Miani MP, et al. High-fiber diet supplementation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a multicenter, randomized, open trial comparison between wheat bran diet and partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG). Dig Dis Sci 2002;47:1697-704. View abstract.
  17. Schatzkin A, Lanza E, Corle D, et al. Lack of effect of a low-fat, high-fiber diet on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas. Polyp Prevention Trial Study Group. N Engl J Med 2000;342:1149-55. view abstract.
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