Fiber Health Benefits

Health Benefits and Tolerance of Dietary Fiber Supplements in Children

The investigators hypothesize that fiber supplementation will provide measurable differences in indices of children's health (fewer complaints of abdominal pain and constipation, lower body mass index) compared to placebo.

This prospective study proposes supplementing children with fiber or placebo for four months. Children in elementary school, ages 5-12, will be randomized to receive fiber supplemented bars vs low-fiber snack bars (placebo).

Inclusion Criteria:

-Children bewteen ages of 5-12 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of allergy/intolerance to components of the snack bars (e.g. celiac disease)
• History of Hisrchsprungs disease, abdominal surgery to intestine or colon
• Unable to take a fiber bar by mouth