Fiber Supplements
A high-fiber diet will help you have soft, regular bowel movements. Having a bowel movement when your body gives you an urge to go is the best time to have a bowel movement. This will minimize problems with hemorrhoids, fissures, itching and other common colon, rectal and anal problems.
A diet high in fiber has about 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day. The information below will help you understand how to get that amount of fiber in your diet with supplements.
For information on getting more fiber through food, please see Increasing Fiber Intake.
Precautions
- Do not take if you have a narrowing in your esophagus or in your intestines
- If you are a diabetic, avoid the preparations with sugar
- If you need to watch your sodium intake, avoid the psyllium preparation
- If you are taking Tetracycline, avoid the polycarbophils
- If you have phenylketonuria, avoid the preparations with Aspartame
- If you are taking Coumadin, avoid the preparations with psyllium
Types of Supplements
Citrucel
- Dose – One tablespoon 1 to 3 times daily.
- Available forms – Orange flavored, sugar-free
- Form of fiber – Methylcellulose, powder equals 2 grams per tablespoon
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Fiberall
- Dose – One tablespoon equals 2 grams soluble fiber and 1.5 grams of insoluble fiber.
- Available forms – Flavors include orange and tropical fruit as well as sugar-free.
FiberCon Caplets
- Dose – One caplet equals 500 mg of polycarbophil. Take 1 to 4 caplets a day.
Hydrocil Instant
- Dose – One teaspoon equals 3.5 grams of psyllium
- Form of fiber – Psyllium
Konsyl
- Dose – One teaspoon equals 6 grams of psyllium.
- Form of fiber – Psyllium
Metamucil
- Dose – One teaspoon or one wafer equals 3 grams of insoluble fiber and 2 grams of soluble fiber. Take up to three times a day.
- Available forms – Flavored or non-flavored, sweetened or artificially sweetened, regular or smooth. It comes in wafers, including apple crisp and cinnamon spice.
- Form of fiber – Psyllium
Perdiem
- Dose – One teaspoon equals 4 grams of psyllium. Take up to 1 to 2 teaspoons four times a day.
- Available forms – Mint flavored
- Form of fiber – Psyllium (stimulant)
UniFiber
- Dose – One tablespoon equals 3 grams of cellulose.
- Form of fiber – Cellulose
UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.
