Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

159
fiber, constipation and
07_189283 ch06.qxp 4/18/08 10:15 PM Page 159
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
http://www.allofislam.com/

---

stools. Fiber is used effectively in treating constipa-
tion that results from poor dietary habits. Bran is
particularly rich in insoluble fiber.
fiber, diabetes and
Diabetes can be influenced
by intake of fiber. Soluble fibers found in oat bran,
apples, citrus fruits, pears, peas and beans, psyl-
lium, and other foods slow down the digestion of
carbohydrates (sugars), which results in improved
glucose metabolism. A diet high in cereal fiber has
been linked to a decreased risk for developing type
II diabetes.
fiber, insoluble
Fiber that cannot dissolve in
water. Insoluble fiber is found in wheat bran, cab-
bage, peas and beans, and other foods. Both are
important diet components for optimal health. See
also 
fiber, soluble.
fiber, soluble
Fiber that can at least partially be
dissolved in water. Soluble fiber is found in oat
bran, apples, citrus, pears, peas and beans, psyl-
lium, and other foods. Both soluble and insoluble
fiber are important diet components for optimal
health. See also 
fiber, insoluble.
fibrates
Cholesterol-lowering drugs that are
effective in lowering triglycerides and, to a lesser
extent, in increasing HDL cholesterol levels.
Gemfibrozil (brand name: Lopid), the fibrate most
widely used in the US, can be effective for patients
with high triglyceride levels, but it is not very effec-
tive for lowering LDL cholesterol. As a result, it is
used less often than other drugs for patients with
heart disease for whom LDL cholesterol lowering is
the main goal of treatment. Fibrates are generally
well tolerated by most patients. Fibrates appear to
increase a patient’s likelihood of developing choles-
terol gallstones and can increase the effects of med-
ications that thin the blood.