LAXATIVE EFFECTS OF WHEAT BRAN AND "WASHED BRAN" IN HEALTHY MEN

Abstract

The importance of ingestion of a reasonable amount of food "roughage" for the maintenance of satisfactory intestinal motility is widely appreciated. It is quite generally recognized that wheat bran contains a relatively large amount of indigestible material, notably cellulose. Knowledge of these facts has resulted in a considerable use by human beings of bran as a source of food roughage. Extreme views regarding such use have been expressed in the literature. Kellogg¹ is one of those who attribute numerous ills to constipation and therefore advocate the ingestion of large amounts of various sources of "indigestible residue," including bran, as a corrective and preventive measure. Alvarez² has challenged this view, and, as evidence for his position, has cited the results of a questionnaire circulated among physicians concerning the therapeutic use of bran. It may be questioned whether such a method of approach to the problem as Alvarez has employed