Wheat Bran

Other Name(s):

麸皮、谷类纤维, Dextrine de Blé, Dietary Fiber, Fibre Alimentaire, Fibre Céréalière, Gehun, Godhoom, Salvado de Trigo, Son, Son de Blé, Triticum aestivum, Triticum Aestrivum, Triticum sativum, Wheat, Wheat Dextrin.

Overview

Wheat is a plant. The outer shell of the grain (the bran) is used to make medicine.

Wheat bran is used as a source of dietary fiber for preventing colon diseases (including cancer), stomach cancer, breast cancer, gallbladder disease, hemorrhoids and hiatal hernia. It is also used for treating constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

How does it work?

Wheat bran helps constipation by speeding up the colon and increasing stool output and bowel frequency.

SLIDESHOW

How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids: Types, Causes and TreatmentsSee Slideshow

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for...

  • Constipation. Taking wheat bran seems to be effective for treating mild constipation and restoring normal bowel function, but it doesn't seem to soften stools.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Taking wheat bran may reduce stomach pain and improve bowel function in people with mild to moderate IBS. However, it may not be as effective as guar gum.
  • Lowering blood pressure. Taking wheat bran seems to produce modest, but significant reductions in blood pressure.
  • Preventing stomach cancer.
  • Preventing hemorrhoids.

Possibly Ineffective for...

  • Preventing cancer of the colon (bowels) or rectum. Several large well-designed studies showed that fiber, including wheat-bran fiber, does not prevent the recurrence of pre-cancerous tumors, despite earlier evidence that suggested fiber might help.
  • Type 2 diabetes. Taking wheat bran does not seem to consistently improve blood sugar control. Also, it does not improve blood pressure, blood fats, clotting factors, homocysteine, C-reactive protein, or other factors associated with heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Breast cancer.
  • Gallbladder disease.
  • Hiatal hernia.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of wheat bran for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate(detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Wheat bran is safe for most people to use. It may cause gas (flatulence) and stomach discomfort, especially when first used.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Wheat bran seems to be safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

QUESTION

Everyone has hemorrhoids.See Answer

Interactions


Digoxin (Lanoxin)Interaction Rating:ModerateBe cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Wheat bran is high in fiber. Fiber can decrease the absorption and decrease the effectiveness of digoxin (Lanoxin). As a general rule, any medications taken by mouth should be taken one hour before or four hours after wheat bran to prevent this interaction.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For constipation: 20 to 25 grams of wheat bran per day. It appears that 40 grams per day is no more effective than 20 grams per day.
  • For the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): 30 grams of wheat bran per day for up to 12 weeks.
  • For high blood pressure: 3-6 grams of whole-wheat flour, wheat flakes, and brown rice, combined with a National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) step 1 diet.
Adequate intake (AI) levels for dietary fiber intake per day have been set. For children 1 to 3 years, the AI is 19 grams; for children 4 to 8 years, 25 grams. For boys 9 to 13 years, the AI is 31 grams; for boys 14 to 18 years, 38 grams. For girls 9 to 18 years, the AI is 26 grams. For men 19 to 50 years, the AI is 38 grams, and 30 grams for men older than 51 years. For women 19 to 50 years, the AI is 25 grams, and 21 grams for women older than 51 years. For pregnant women, the AI is 28 grams, and 29 grams for breast-feeding women. AI for children less than one year has not been set.

A tolerable upper intake levels (UL) for fiber, the highest intake level at which no unwanted side effects are expected, has not been set.

FDA的标志

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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit theFDA MedWatchwebsite or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

Alberts DS, Martinez ME, Roe DJ, et al. Lack of effect of a high-fiber cereal supplement on the recurrence of colorectal adenomas. Phoenix Colon Cancer Prevention Physicians' Network. N Engl J Med 2000;342:1156-62. View abstract.

Anon. Consensus statement on cereals, fibre and colorectal and breast cancers. Proceedings of the European Cancer Prevention consensus meeting. Santa Margheritia, Italy, 2-5 October 1997. Eur J Cancer Prev 1998;7:S1-83. View abstract.

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.

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.

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.

Chiesara E, Borghini R, Marabini. Dietary fibre and drug interactions. Eur J Clin Nutr 1995;49:S123-8.

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/.

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.

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.

Griffenberg L, Morris M, Atkinson N, Levenback C. The effect of dietary fiber on bowel function following radical hysterectomy: a randomized trial. Gynecol Oncol 1997;66:417-24.. View abstract.

Hallfrisch J, Scholfield DJ, Behall KM. Blood pressure reduced by whole grain diet containing barley or whole wheat and brown rice in moderately hypercholesterolemic men. Nutr Res 2003;23:1631-42.

Helton WS;SSAT, AGA ASGE共识面板。2001 consensus statement on benign anorectal disease. J Gastrointest Surg 2002;6:302-3.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Terry P, Lagergren J, Ye W, et al. Inverse association between intake of cereal fiber and risk of gastric cardia cancer. Gastroenterology 2001;120:387-91.. View abstract.

Van Horn L. Fiber, lipids, and coronary heart disease. A statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutr Committee, Am Heart Assn. Circulation 1997;95:2701-4. View abstract.

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