Effect of Guar Gum Added to the Diet of Patients with Duodenal Ulcer

ABSTRACT. In a randomized, double-blind, controlled clin-ical study, the effects of 5 g of guar gum, a dietary fiber composed of galactose and mannose, or placebo added to the diet of 20 patients with duodenal ulcer for 1 wk each were examined. Ten patients derived evident benefit and five some help from guar gum, on comparing symptoms during adminis-tration of guar gum with those experienced earlier or during the placebo week, whereas four patients found that neither guar gum nor placebo had any effect (p < 0.001). The beneficial effect was associated with increased feelings of repletion after meals. Patients with fewest symptoms benefited only slightly, or not at all, from guar gum. In one patient, guar gum abolished pain felt earlier and on placebo, but also caused severe gastric retention after meals. This patient had pyloric stenosis. In patients who were intolerant to berries, fruits, sugar, swee