Fibre supplements
Adults are advised to eat 30g of fibre a day; most manage about 20g.
Short answer Adults are advised to eat 30g of fibre a day; most manage about 20g. Fibre supplements such as psyllium husk can help close the gap, taken with plenty of water.
Types
Psyllium (ispaghula) forms a gel and is used for constipation; inulin is fermentable; wheat bran adds bulk.
How to take them
Start low, build up over a fortnight, and drink a full glass of water with each dose. Take two hours apart from medicines.
Related pages
- Digestive enzymesFor most people digestive enzyme supplements are unnecessary.
- Probiotics for womenProbiotics marketed for women's intimate health contain lactobacillus strains.
- Probiotics with antibioticsThere is some evidence that taking a probiotic during a course of antibiotics reduces the chance of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
- PrebioticsPrebiotics are fibres that feed gut bacteria, such as inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides.
Keep exploring
Questions people ask
What should I know about fibre supplements?
Adults are advised to eat 30g of fibre a day; most manage about 20g.
Can I take this with medication?
Ask a pharmacist or GP first; some supplements interact with medicines.
Do supplements replace a balanced diet?
No. They are meant to add to a varied diet, not stand in for one.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026.