Which nutrition supplement has been shown to reduce the incidence of involuntary stool leakage?

• A. Psyllium fiber and gum arabic supplements
• B. Probiotic strains
• C. Loperamide
• D. Soluble fiber derivative

Answer: (A)

Stabilizing stool form with bulking soluble fiber helps reduce involuntary leakage by making stools more formed and less urgent. Psyllium absorbs water and adds bulk, creating a gel-like stool that softens loose stools while slowing transit a bit. When combined with gum arabic, another soluble fiber, this approach has been shown to lower the number of leakage episodes by improving stool consistency and reducing urgency.

Probiotic strains can influence gut flora but don’t have consistent, strong evidence for reducing fecal incontinence episodes. Loperamide is a medication that slows bowel movements and reduces stool liquidity, but it isn’t a nutrition supplement. A soluble fiber derivative may offer some benefit, but the specific combination of psyllium and gum arabic has the most robust evidence for decreasing involuntary leakage.