ABSTRACT
The hypothesis that dietary fibre protects against appendicitis was tested. One thousand seven hundred subjects, involved in another enquiry, were sent a questionnaire asking about their intake of cereal fibre and other foodstuffs, and whether or not they had had an appendectomy. The respondents, who represented 92 per cent of the sample, were divided into those who ate wholemeal bread daily and those who ate wholemeal bread rarely or never. These groups appeared to be very similar with respect to age, sex, smoking habit, alcohol intake and various other factors. Comparison of appendicectomy rates between those who ate wholemeal bread and those who did not showed a deficit among the former, which is consistent with a protective effect of cereal fibre, but the difference was not statistically significant.
Subject(s)
Appendectomy , Cellulose/administration & dosage , Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Alcohol Drinking , Appendicitis/etiology , Appendicitis/prevention & control , Child , Diet/adverse effects , Diet Surveys , Female , Humans , Male , Sex Factors , SmokingABSTRACT
A controlled cross-over trial of supplementary potassium was conducted in 46 elderly people whose dietary intake of potassium appeared to be no more than 45 mEq per day. Their grip strength and mental function were no better after two weeks' treatment with 48 mEq than when they received placebo tablets. It was concluded that the possible benefits of widespread potassium supplementation do not justify the risks which would be incurred.
