Monday May 5, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- According to Reuters, healthcare cost per capita in the United States now is more than $9,400.  Few food consumers know the fact, according to a new study, that constipation results in big medical costs.

The study released in the FASEB Journal suggests that one thing food consumers can do to help reduce healthcare costs is simply increase their consumption of dietary fiber, which lowers the constipation risk.

The study has found that if 50% of the adult population in the U.S. increased their consumption of dietary fiber by 3 grams per day, more than $2 billion in the medical costs can be saved annually.

Paige Miller from Health Sciences Exponent, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, United States and colleagues conducted the study and estimated the economic impact of increased intake of dietary fiber on the direct medical costs related to constipation in the U.S.

The data used for the study came from the peer-reviewed literature which provides information on prevalence of constipation and dietary fiber consumption etc.

The study reveals direct medical cost-savings was $12.7 billion annually among adults when all adults increased dietary fiber intake to 25 grams per day.  A one-gram-per-day increase in dietary fiber intake was associated with a 1.9% reduction in the constipation rate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines constipation as a condition in which a person  pexeriences "passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week." or "may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement." (David Liu)

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