Letters to the Editor
Use of Breakfast Cereals for Constipation in Elderly Persons
Am Fam Physician. 1999 Mar 15;59(6):1402.
to the editor: Sometimes a trip to the grocery store can be very informative. Because constipation is a prevalent problem in elderly persons and insoluble fiber is an important treatment, an examination of fiber-containing breakfast cereals is enlightening. Deciding which breakfast cereal to use in the treatment of constipation can be difficult considering the names of cereals, such as 100% Bran, All-Bran and Complete Wheat Bran. The fine print on the box reveals that 100% Bran contains only 7 g of insoluble fiber per 29 g serving—a disappointing 24.1 percent insoluble fiber for a product that claims to be 100 percent bran.
Several other breakfast cereals contain nearly double the amount of fiber that is found in 100% Bran (see the accompanying table).
Common Breakfast Cereals Suggested for High Fiber Content
| Cereal | Total fiber per serving (g) | Insoluble fiber (%) | Serving size (g) | Serving (volume) | Insoluble fiber (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiber One, General Mills | 13 | 40.0 | 30 | 1/2 cup | 12 |
All-Bran, Kellogg's | 10 | 29.0 | 31 | 1/2 cup | 9 |
100% Bran, Post | 8 | 24.1 | 29 | 1/3 cup | 7 |
Bran Flakes, Post | 5 | ≤13.3 | 30 | 3/4 cup | 4 |
Raisin Bran, Kellogg's | 8 | ≤13.1 | 61 | 1 cup | * |
Complete Wheat Bran, Kellogg's | 5 | 13.8 | 29 | 3/4 cup | 4 |
Shredded Wheat, Post | 5 | 10.9 | 46 | 2 biscuits | 5 |
Grape-nuts, Post | 5 | ≤8.6 | 58 | 1/2 cup | * |
*—Not itemized on box.
Common Breakfast Cereals Suggested for High Fiber Content
| Cereal | Total fiber per serving (g) | Insoluble fiber (%) | Serving size (g) | Serving (volume) | Insoluble fiber (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiber One, General Mills | 13 | 40.0 | 30 | 1/2 cup | 12 |
All-Bran, Kellogg's | 10 | 29.0 | 31 | 1/2 cup | 9 |
100% Bran, Post | 8 | 24.1 | 29 | 1/3 cup | 7 |
Bran Flakes, Post | 5 | ≤13.3 | 30 | 3/4 cup | 4 |
Raisin Bran, Kellogg's | 8 | ≤13.1 | 61 | 1 cup | * |
Complete Wheat Bran, Kellogg's | 5 | 13.8 | 29 | 3/4 cup | 4 |
Shredded Wheat, Post | 5 | 10.9 | 46 | 2 biscuits | 5 |
Grape-nuts, Post | 5 | ≤8.6 | 58 | 1/2 cup | * |
*—Not itemized on box.
Send letters to afplet@aafp.org, or 11400 Tomahawk Creek Pkwy., Leawood, KS 66211-2680. Include your complete address, e-mail address, and telephone number. Letters should be fewer than 400 words and limited to six references, one table or figure, and three authors.
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This series is coordinated by Kenny Lin, MD, MPH, Associate Deputy Editor for AFP Online.
Copyright © 1999 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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