The 6 Best Fiber Supplements for Diarrhea

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The best fiber supplements for diarrhea contain psyllium husk and an overall low dose of fiber.
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It doesn't make for good conversation, but if you're running to the bathroom a little more often than usual, then it's time to do something about your diarrhea.

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Lucky for you, if it's not chronic and you don't have any other gastrointestinal conditions, getting your diarrhea under control may only require a slight change to your diet or an added fiber supplement to cut back on your frequent trips to the loo.

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But wait, doesn't fiber treat constipation? Does fiber help with diarrhea, too? The answer is yes to both, which is why the type of fiber and how much you take really matters. (For example, products like Citrucel and FiberCon are bulk-forming laxatives meant to treat constipation, not diarrhea.)

Psyllium husk is the best fiber supplement for loose stools, says registered dietitian Chelsea Macias, RDN. That's because it's a form of soluble fiber, which slows down digestion and helps bulk up your stool, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. (By contrast, insoluble fiber speeds up digestion, which could make diarrhea worse.)

Indeed, psyllium turns into a gel in your intestines, which can help firm up loose or liquid stools, according to a 2021 review of the research in Nutrition Today‌. Another September 2017 review in the ‌International Journal of Molecular Medicine‌ says psyllium is both safe and effective as a fiber supplement for IBS with diarrhea (although you should talk to your doctor first if you have irritable bowel syndrome).

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But that doesn't mean you should load up on fiber, as that might be too tough on your digestive system (which is already dealing with a lot) and could even lead to constipation. Rather, stick to a low dose: about 3 to 5 grams.

With that in mind, here are the best fiber supplements for diarrhea.

The Best Fiber Supplements for Diarrhea

How We Chose

We tapped a registered dietitian for her recommendations on what to look for and chose our top picks based on the following criteria:

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  • Ingredients
  • Quality and safety
  • Cost
  • Availability

Lear more about how we choose and review products here.

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Warning

If your diarrhea is caused by an infection or underlying GI condition, fiber may not be the solution. If you're not sure about what's causing your diarrhea, talk to your doctor to see if adding a fiber supplement is the right approach for you.

1. Yerba Prima Organic Psyllium Whole Husks

Best Overall

Yerba Prima Organic Psyllium Whole Husks

This organic pick is gentle on your system and helps keep you regular.

Pros

  • Third-party tested
  • USDA organic

Cons

  • May need to start with a half dose

Yerba Prima gets the best overall nod among stool-hardening supplements because it checks three important boxes: type of fiber, cost and quality. No fanciness or frills means you get the best bang for your buck.

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One serving provides 4.5 grams of fiber (3.5 grams of soluble fiber), so consider starting with a half dose. Then keep this on hand for any fiber supplementation after your symptoms resolve.

Consumer Lab, a third-party testing lab that checks for potency and purity of dietary supplements, gives this supplement a thumbs up for quality. It's also certified USDA organic, which ensures you aren't getting any additives you don't want.

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2. Metamucil Premium Blend With Stevia

Best Tasting

Metamucil Premium Blend With Stevia

Enjoy the classic orange Metamucil taste, but without sugar.

Pros

  • Easy to mix
  • Orange flavor

Cons

  • Stevia may cause upset stomach for some people

Metamucil has been a long-time favorite psyllium supplement. This comes in a powdered form and is easy to mix into your favorite drinks or yogurt.

Its orange flavor is more pleasing to the palate than many other supplements, but that taste comes at a cost. The stevia in this product may cause nausea or stomach upset in some people, and others may not like the aftertaste. Metamucil also makes a fiber supplement with sugar ($13.59, Amazon.com), but keep in mind that it delivers 8 grams of added sugar per serving (about a third of the recommended daily amount, per the American Heart Association).

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Metamucil says the serving size is 1 to 2 teaspoons for its stevia-sweetened product, but it's recommended you start out with 1 teaspoon (3 grams of fiber) if you've never taken fiber before.

Metamucil also makes orange-flavored fiber gummies, but these contain a soluble fiber called inulin rather than psyllium, so they're not a good choice when you have diarrhea.

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3. NOW Psyllium Husk Capsules

Best Capsules

NOW Psyllium Husk Capsules

These capsules are a convenient choice compared to powders.

Pros

  • Adheres to good manufacturing practices
  • Good amount of psyllium fiber

Cons

  • Must take with 8 ounces of water

These fiber pills for diarrhea contain 3.3 grams of psyllium fiber per serving, which is a good amount when you're treating diarrhea that won't go away. It's recommended you take the capsules with a full 8 ounces of water.

NOW Foods adheres to current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), which is a quality control program set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NOW psyllium husk capsules passed Consumer Lab's test for quality and heavy metals, making this a safe choice.

The suggested usage is to take three capsules, three times a day, but stick with once a day until your diarrhea symptoms have resolved.

4. NOW Foods Psyllium Husk Powder

Best Powder

NOW Foods Psyllium Husk Powder

This budget-friendly option is easy to mix into any drink.

Pros

  • Easy to mix
  • Budget-friendly

Cons

  • Best to start out with a low dose because it has 7 grams of fiber per tablespoon

NOW Foods gets another nod for a quality psyllium powder supplement. This powder is finely ground, making it ideal to mix into your drinks or bake into your favorite dishes.

One serving has a large amount of fiber, 7 grams per tablespoon, so it's best to start out with a half tablespoon or even a teaspoon when you start taking this fiber.

It's an inexpensive choice and one you can continue to use long after your diarrhea symptoms are gone. It also has thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon.

5. Organic India Whole Husk Psyllium Fiber

Best Organic

Organic India Whole Husk Psyllium Fiber

This organic, unflavored powder is potent and doesn't have added sugar.

Pros

  • Certified organic
  • No additives, added sugar or artificial flavors

Cons

  • Unflavored, which may make it difficult to take for some people

While you may not have heard of Organic India, they make a whole husk psyllium fiber that has been tested and approved for quality and safety by Consumer Lab.

One serving provides 4 grams of soluble fiber, which is right in the sweet spot, but you could still take a half tablespoon starting out to ensure your body reacts well.

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It is certified organic, which is another measure of strict quality standards. It also doesn't have any additives, added sugar or artificial sugars — just psyllium.

6. Citrucel Methylcellulose Fiber Caplets

Best for Diarrhea and Constipation

Citrucel Methylcellulose Fiber Caplets

For those with IBS, these low-dose capsules are gentle and can help keep you regular.

Pros

  • Best if you experience diarrhea and constipation
  • Gentle dietary fiber
  • Easy to swallow

Cons

  • May not be enough fiber for some people

If you're someone who lives with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you may have alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. If this is the case, a gentle and low-dose fiber capsule like this one from Citrucel could be helpful.

The orange-flavored, easy-to-swallow capsule has about 500 milligrams of methylcellulose, a non-allergenic fiber. This is just enough to help keep you regular without causing excess gas or diarrhea.

What to Look for in a Fiber Supplement for Diarrhea

To recap what we discussed above, a fiber supplement to treat diarrhea should check the following boxes:

1. Contains Psyllium Fiber

This type of fiber has been shown to help slow digestion and firm up loose stools.

2. Low Dose of Fiber

You don't want to overdo it on fiber when you have diarrhea, so stick to a dose between 3 and 5 grams.

3. Third-Party Testing

A supplement that has been given the stamp of approval by a third-party tester such as Consumer Lab is more likely to contain the ingredients it claims, in the amount it claims and without any added fillers or harmful substances.

Tip

If you take medications, take your fiber supplement at a different time to ensure adequate absorption of your medication. This is recommended for most supplements.

When to See a Doctor

If your diarrhea is not getting better or seems to get worse, take a break from your fiber supplement and call your doctor. Not everyone's body reacts the same way to fiber, and you may need to take a different approach.

These fiber supplements are not recommended for children. If your child has diarrhea, call their pediatrician, who can advise you on how best to treat it.

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references

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

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