Fiber supplements can help meet daily fiber intake goals and assist with weight loss, constipation, and blood glucose control. To get the most benefit, you should take them consistently, at a convenient time. Taking them at specific times of day, such as with a meal, may be helpful if you desire certain benefits.
It is important to work with a healthcare provider to understand which fiber supplement will be helpful and when to take it. Fiber supplements are generally considered safe, but people with certain medical conditions may want to avoid them.
Timing for Consistency and Health Goals
Scientific evidence is lacking on the benefits of taking fiber supplements at a specific time. Most studies don’t specify a particular timing. The most important factor is taking them every day (regardless of timing).
Ultimately, the best time to take a fiber supplement is when you will consistently remember to do so. Consider how it fits into your daily schedule and how you will be prompted to take it.
In one study focused on fiber for weight loss and lowering blood pressure, participants took supplements two or three times a day. The people who took fiber supplements were more likely to lose weight than those in the control group—who took the placebo (inactive treatment). Whether or not the timing was key to the weight loss effect is unclear.
Morning
Weight loss: People who are considering the use of fiber supplements as part of a weight control plan may want to take fiber in the morning. Fiber can help you feel fuller during the day so that you may eat fewer calories.
Midday
Weight loss: Similar to morning, a midday fiber supplement may help you feel full and consume fewer calories at meals. Consider what time of day you feel hungry and work your fiber intake around that time. If sticking to an eating plan is more difficult in the afternoon and evening, increasing fiber at midday may be helpful.
Night
Constipation: A fiber supplement might work in a few days or less for constipation, but the overall effects might be better when used long-term (for four weeks or more). It’s often recommended that some laxatives be taken at night, although that is not stipulated for fiber supplements.
Weight loss: Taking fiber in the evening (around dinnertime) could also help reduce late-night snacking. It’s possible that it can also help avoid blood sugar variation overnight, though that is a theory without much evidence to back it up.
When taking fiber at night, however, consider the potential for side effects, such as bloating and gas, that could interfere with sleep.
Should You Take Fiber Supplements Before or After Meals?
Taking a fiber supplement before or after a meal will depend on your reason for taking it.
Taking fiber before a meal may help with weight loss. Some evidence shows that fiber from foods helps people feel full, which may help people adhere to a lower-calorie diet and lose weight.
Taking fiber supplements with a meal may help manage blood glucose levels. One study showed that after six months, people who took a psyllium supplement (a type of soluble fiber supplement) twice a day at meals were more likely to have an improvement in their blood glucose levels.
A gel-forming soluble fiber supplement taken with a meal may also help stabilize blood glucose levels after eating. This can help slow down the absorption of nutrients from food while not changing the amount of nutrients being absorbed.
There’s little evidence that taking fiber supplements after a meal can prevent gas and bloating. If intestinal symptoms are an issue for you, try different supplements to determine what works best for you.
Timing of Fiber and Medications
Some types of fiber slow down the digestive process. If they’re taken at the same time as certain drugs, the absorption of those drugs may also be slowed down. That could affect drugs such as warfarin, antibiotics, metformin, and Tylenol (acetaminophen). It’s recommended that people take drugs an hour before or two hours after the fiber supplement.
Tips to Prevent Side Effects
Increasing fiber in the diet can lead to side effects such as intestinal gas and bloating. Ways to lessen potential side effects include:
- Aim to get the same amount of fiber each day.
- Change the type of fiber or vary fiber sources.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Increase fiber intake by adding 1 to 2 grams per day.
- Try getting some physical activity such as walking.
How Much Fiber Do You Need Per Day?
It’s estimated that 90% of women and 97% of men in the United States do not get enough fiber. The guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend that most people get around 28 grams (g) of fiber per day. This works out to 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories of food. As calorie needs differ, so does the amount of fiber.
The amount of fiber intake per day per sex and age group as recommended by the USDA:
| Females | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Daily Calories | Daily Fiber (g) |
| 2 to 3 years | 1,000 | 14 |
| 4 to 8 years | 1,200 | 17 |
| 9 to 13 years | 1,600 | 22 |
| 14 to 18 years | 1,800 | 25 |
| 19 to 30 years | 2,000 | 28 |
| 31 to 50 years | 1,800 | 25 |
| 51 and over | 1,800 | 22 |
| Males | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Daily Calories | Daily Fiber (g) |
| 2 to 3 years | 1,000 | 14 |
| 4 to 8 years | 1,400 | 20 |
| 9 to 13 years | 1,800 | 25 |
| 14 to 18 years | 2,200 | 31 |
| 19 to 30 years | 2,400 | 34 |
| 31 to 50 years | 2,200 | 31 |
| 51 and over | 2,000 | 28 |
Who Should Avoid Fiber Supplements?
People with intestinal strictures (narrowing of the intestine) should avoid fiber supplements. Strictures may occur in people with Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory bowel disease). Talk to a healthcare provider about fiber if you have an intestinal stricture or Crohn’s disease.
People with diverticular disease (intestinal outpouchings called diverticula) who are experiencing diverticulitis (inflammation of the diverticula) should also avoid fiber supplements until the inflammation resolves. However, a high-fiber diet is recommended for people with diverticular disease when they are not inflamed.
Supplement Safety
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements the way it does for prescription medications. As a result, some supplement products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label or in the quantities mentioned.
When choosing a supplement, look for products independently tested or certified by organizations such as NSF, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), or ConsumerLab.com. For personalized guidance, consult your healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Summary
People may take fiber supplements to meet dietary fiber needs, treat constipation, or manage weight or blood glucose levels. The most important factor in getting their benefits is taking them consistently rather than at a specific time each day. Fiber supplements are mostly considered safe, but some people, especially those with digestive conditions, should discuss them with a healthcare provider.
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