***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND Determination of the metabolizable ( ME ) and net metabolizable ( NME ) energy of total carbohydrate requires estimation of its available ( AC ) and fermentable ( FC ) carbohydrate content . Modeling of indirect calorimetric observations ( respiratory gas exchange ) and breath hydrogen would appear to make it possible to estimate noninvasively these nutritional quantities and the approximate time-course of availability . OBJECTIVE We assessed the time-course of metabolism and energy availability from resistant maltodextrin ( RMD ) by modeling of respiratory gases after a single oral dose . DESIGN Seventeen healthy adults ( 13 M , 4 F ; aged 25 - 46 y ) were r and omly assigned to treatments ( water , maltodextrin , or RMD ) in a multiple-crossover , single-blinded trial with > or = 7 d washout . We monitored 8-h nitrogen-corrected oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanges and breath hydrogen . All treatment groups took low-carbohydrate meals at 3 and 6 h. RESULTS Indirect calorimetry alone provided only qualitative information about the nutritional values of carbohydrate . In contrast , modeling of gaseous exchanges along with the use of central assumptions showed that 17 + /- 2 % of RMD was AC and 40 + /- 4 % was FC . As compared with 17 kJ gross energy/g RMD , mean ( + /- SE ) energy values were 7.3 + /- 0.6 kJ ME/g and 6.3 + /- 0.5 kJ NME/g . The fiber fraction of RMD provided 5.2 + /- 0.7 kJ ME/g and 4.1 + /- 0.6 kJ NME/g . CONCLUSIONS Modeling with the use of this noninvasive and widely available respiratory gas-monitoring technique yields nutritional values for carbohydrate that are supported by enzymatic , microbial , and animal studies and human fecal collection studies . Improvement in this approach is likely and testable across laboratories OBJECTIVES : Functional gastrointestinal disorders ( FGIDs ) comprise a constellation of symptoms that have no identifiable structural or biochemical abnormality . In view of the lack of data from large-scale population -based studies evaluating the effects of these disorders on survival , we aim ed to examine whether FGIDs are associated with impaired survival . METHODS : Between 1988 and 1993 ,  valid self-report question naires that recorded gastrointestinal symptoms required for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS ) , chronic constipation , chronic diarrhea , dyspepsia , and abdominal pain were mailed to r and omly selected cohorts of Olmsted County , Minnesota residents . Minnesota administrative death records were used to identify which of the survey respondents had died over the follow-up period ( through April 2008 ) . The association between survival and each FGID was assessed using proportional hazards regression models with univariate and adjusted hazard ratios ( HRs , 95 % confidence intervals ( CIs ) ) , adjusting for age at time of survey , gender , smoking , alcohol , marital status , and Charlson Comorbidity Index ( CCI ) . RESULTS : Of the 5,262 r and omly selected eligible subjects who received a question naire , a total of 4,176 responded to the surveys ( overall response rate 79 % ) . From these respondents , 243 subjects were excluded because of lack of research authorization ( or were registered solely at a different medical institution in Olmsted County , MN ) , result ing in 3,933 eligible subjects for analysis ( eligible response rate 75 % ) ; 10 % reported symptoms of IBS ; 16 % chronic constipation ; 18 % chronic diarrhea ; 2 % dyspepsia ; and 15 % abdominal pain . At baseline , the mean ( s.d . ) age was 54 ( 18 ) years , and 52 % were female . No association with overall survival was detected for IBS ( HR=1.06 ( 95 % CI : 0.86–1.32 ) ) , chronic diarrhea ( HR=1.03 ( 95 % CI : 0.90–1.19 ) ) , abdominal pain ( HR=1.09 ( 95 % CI : 0.92–1.30 ) ) , or dyspepsia ( HR=1.08 ( 95 % CI : 0.58–2.02 ) ) . Reporting symptoms of chronic constipation was associated with poorer survival ( HR=1.23 ( 95 % CI : 1.07–1.42 ) ) . This association remained significant after adjusting for the CCI ( HR=1.19 ( 95 % CI : 1.03–1.37 ) ) . CONCLUSIONS : In this large population -based cohort study with over 30,000 person-years of follow-up , no significant association was observed between survival and IBS , chronic diarrhea , dyspepsia , or abdominal pain . Furthermore , no association was found between increasing burden of FGIDs and survival . However , in contrast to these other FGIDs , subjects with symptoms of chronic constipation were found to be at increased risk of poorer survival . Further investigation is required to determine the cause of this observed association The objective of the present study was to determine the maximum dose of resistant maltodextrin (Fibersol)-2 , a non-viscous water-soluble dietary fiber ) , that does not induce transitory diarrhea . Ten healthy adult subjects ( 5 men and 5 women ) ingested Fibersol-2 at increasing dose levels of 0.7 , 0.8 , 0.9 , 1.0 , and 1.1 g/kg body weight ( bw ) . Each administration was separated from the previous dose by an interval of 1 wk . The highest dose level that did not cause diarrhea in any subject was regarded as the maximum non-effective level for a single dose . The results showed that no subject of either sex experienced diarrhea at dose levels of 0.7 , 0.8 , 0.9 , or 1.0 g/kg bw . At the highest dose level of 1.1 g/kg bw , no female subject experienced diarrhea , whereas 1 male subject developed diarrhea with muddy stools 2 h after ingestion of the test substance . Consequently , the maximum non-effective level for a single dose of the resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2 is 1.0 g/kg bw for men and > 1.1 g/kg bw for women . Gastrointestinal symptoms were gurgling sounds in 4 subjects ( 7 events ) and flatus in 5 subjects ( 9 events ) , although no association with dose level was observed . These symptoms were mild and transient and resolved without treatment Purpose Increased awareness of the importance of dietary fibre has led to increased interest in “ functional ” fibre components like digestion-resistant maltodextrin ( RMD ) . This r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind study assessed the effects of RMD in the colonic transit time ( CTT ) and defecation characteristics ( frequency , stool volume and consistency ) . Methods Sixty-six healthy adult volunteers ( 32 men ) who did not have a daily defecation habit had a 7-day run-in period before the 21-day intervention period with RMD or placebo .  CTT and segmental CTT ( SCTT ) were assessed by a single abdominal X-ray film taken at the end of both periods after radiopaque marker ingestion . Defecation characteristics and intestinal functions were also assessed , which were self-reported by patients . Intragroup comparisons were evaluated by Student ’s paired t test , Bonferroni test and Chi-square test , while time comparisons by analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) and time-by-treatment interaction by repeated- measures ANOVA . Results Fifty-seven subjects were assessed for CTT ( placebo , n = 28 ; RMD , n = 29 ) . In the RMD group , the total CTT , left SCTT and rectosigmoidal SCTT decreased significantly compared to baseline ( p < 0.01 each ; −13.3 , −4.7 , −8.7 h , respectively ) . Significant differences between groups were observed in total CTT and left SCTT . Significant time-by-treatment interaction was observed in the RMD group for stool volume ( p = 0.014 ) , increasing 56 % compared to baseline ( p < 0.01 ) , while remained unchanged in the placebo group . Stool consistency was improved only in the RMD group ( p < 0.01 ) . No adverse effects related to study products were observed . Conclusions The results show that RMD improved CTT , stool volume , stool consistency and some intestinal functions in a healthy population Objective : Resistant maltodextrin has been shown to increase fecal bulk by resisting digestion and being partially fermented by colonic bacteria to short-chain fatty acids ( SCFA ) . The objective of this experiment was to determine potential prebiotic effects , gastrointestinal tolerance , and fecal characteristics of free-living humans fed a novel resistant maltodextrin or a normal maltodextrin control . Methods : Subjects ( n = 38 ) were enrolled in a r and omized , double-blind study where they were assigned to one of three daily treatments : 15 g maltodextrin ; 7.5 g maltodextrin plus 7.5 g resistant maltodextrin ( Fibersol-2 ® ; Matsutani Chemical Company , Hyogo , Japan ) ; and 15 g resistant maltodextrin . The experiment lasted 7 wk and consisted of a 2 wk baseline period , a 3 wk treatment period , and a 2 wk washout period . During wk 3 to 5 ( treatment period ) , subjects consumed their assigned treatments . Results : Resistant maltodextrin supplementation tended to increase ( p = 0.12 ) fecal Bifidobacterium population s during the treatment period , altered ( p < 0.05 ) bacterial population s from baseline to treatment , and result ed in very minor effects in gastrointestinal tolerance . There was a shift ( p < 0.05 ) in molar proportions of SCFA towards butyrate , the preferred energy substrate of colonocytes . Conclusion : Resistant maltodextrin supplementation was well tolerated , result ed in favorable fermentation characteristics in the large bowel , and also result ed in a change in bacterial population Bran is widely used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders . With few exceptions , investigative work has focused on the effect of bran in normal subjects . Despite its widespread use , there have been no systematic studies of bran in constipation .  Wheat bran is the " gold st and ard " because no other natural fiber has yet been shown to be as effective in increasing fecal bulk . We evaluated the effect of two brans , wheat and corn ( 20 g/day ) , on fecal weight , fecal moisture content , bowel movement frequency , intestinal transit time , and symptoms in 10 constipated ( less than or equal to 3 movements/wk ) but otherwise healthy women . The administration of bran was associated with a significant increase in fecal weight ( 157 % ) , bowel movement frequency ( 55 % ) , and decrease in intestinal transmit time ( 50 % ) . Percentage fecal moisture increased only with wheat bran ( 67.4 - 72.1 % ) , whereas corn bran was significantly better than wheat bran in relieving symptoms of constipation Approximately 20 g/day of concentrated dietary fibre from carrot , cabbage , apple , bran , and guar gum was added to the controlled basal diet of nineteen healthy volunteers .  Faecal weight increased by 12 % on bran , 69 % on cabbage , 59 % on carrot , 40 % on apple , and 20 % on guar gum . These changes in faecal weight were correlated with an increased intake of pentose-containing polysaccharides from the fibre . On the basal diet there were pronounced individual differences in faecal weight , and from these the response of subjects to the fibre preparations could be predicted . Addition of fibre shortened mean transit-time through the gut and significantly diluted an inert marker in the faeces . Diet-induced changes in colonic function may explain international differences in the prevalence of colonic disease , whilst personal variation in the response to dietary fibre may determine individual susceptibility to large-bowel disease within a community 
    Output:
    
As a result of integration analyses , we found that the intake of RMD significantly increased stool volume and stool frequency compared with placebo intake .
Furthermore , RMD intake tended to improve sensation of complete/incomplete evacuation .
In conclusion , the evidence suggests that RMD has a positive effect on bowel movements , contributing to normal bowel function .