The Effect of Fibre on Stools and Transit-times, and its Role in the Causation of Disease, by Burkitt, Walker, and Painter

The 1972 study by Burkitt, Walker, and Painter on “The Effect of Fibre on Stools and Transit-times, and its Role in the Causation of Disease,” was a novel article which has since provided a foundation for hundreds of research studies over the last forty years. The authors built on developing concepts to examine a nutrient that, until relatively recently, had been given little thought of its role in physiological activities. Since its release in 1972, hundreds of published journal articles have cited the study, building on its innovative conclusions to further understanding of the multifaceted relationship between diet and disease.

Summary and Analysis of Article

The investigators examined patterns obtained from more than 200 hospitals in 20 countries of a group of epidemiologically associated diseases. These diseases, they noted, including appendicitis, diverticulitis, and colorectal cancer, were heavily prevalent in developed countries, while seemingly nonexistent in developing countries. Changes in British diet over the last century were also examined including changes in fiber, fat, and sugar intakes. The investigators hypothesized, based on previous study findings, that decreased fiber intake would result in the production of small, firm, difficult to pass stools, with a slow transit-time in comparison to a diet containing the “natural amount” of fiber. The team gave radio-opaque pellets to subjects and examined the 5-6 stools following consumption in which weight of stool and time elapsing between swallowing and passing 20 of the 25 pellets were measured. The study looked at three different populations with three different residue diets for comparison: Vegetarians, vegans, and African boarding-school individuals (mixed d...

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