What Are The Benefits Of Wheat Bran?

Wheat bran is a dietary fiber derived from the outer grain hull of wheat. It is largely composed of insoluble fiber, which means that it does not dissolve in water; instead it absorbs water and works as a bulking agent in your digestive tract. Wheat bran is used in whole grain products such as bran bread and bran cereal and it is also sold as a dietary supplement for a variety of health-promoting purposes. As with any supplement, you should consult with your health care practitioner before self-medicating with wheat bran.

Mechanism of Action

Wheat bran works as a laxative in your digestive tract. It adds bulk to stools in your intestine, softening them and allowing them to pass through your body more easily, states mayoclinic.com. Wheat bran therefore helps to increase colon transit time, stool output and frequency of bowel movements. It also aids in digestion and it helps to bind to, and remove, toxins from your body. In addition, it reduces the production of ammonia in your body, which is a toxic chemical that is a natural byproduct of digestion.

Wheat Bran for Hemorrhoids

Wheat bran may help to reduce the risk of developing hemorrhoids, which are swollen, painful veins in the lower portion of the anus or rectum. The May 1988 edition of "Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica" examined the effects of bran supplements on 92 patients who had recently undergone rubber band ligation, which is a treatment therapy for hemorrhoids. The patients were given a wheat bran supplement twice daily for 18 months. The placebo-controlled study found that the patients given the bran supplement only had a 15 percent recurrence of symptoms, while 45 percent of the patients not taking the bran experienced a reccurrence.

Additional Benefits

People also consume wheat bran as a supplemental source of dietary fiber for preventing gastric cancer, colon cancer and other colon diseases. Preliminary research suggests that wheat bran can also help to reduce your risk of developing hiatal hernia, high cholesterol levels, breast cancer, gallbladder disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, wheat bran helps to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. According to "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database," wheat bran supplements also produce a modest, but significant reduction in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure and may therefore help to both prevent and treat hypertension.

Considerations

For general purposes, such as to produce a laxative effect, 20 to 25 g of wheat bran per day is usually recommended. Wheat bran may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and flatulence. These symptoms are more common when you first start taking wheat bran however, and often subside. Finally, it should be noted that wheat bran may interfere with the absorption of the heart medication dioxin as well as with the absorption of iron.