Sugarcane fiber, also known as bagasse, is a source of insoluble dietary fiber. The use of dietary fiber for the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been investigated in numerous studies, with mixed results depending on the type of fiber used. While soluble fibers (such as psyllium) generally have stronger evidence for symptom improvement in IBS, insoluble fibers—like those derived from sugarcane—have also been explored for potential benefits.

Several small clinical trials and pilot studies have evaluated the effects of sugarcane fiber supplementation in IBS patients. For example, a randomized controlled trial published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology (2014) found that sugarcane fiber supplementation led to improvements in stool frequency and some IBS symptoms compared to placebo, particularly in patients with constipation-predominant IBS. The proposed mechanism is that insoluble fiber increases stool bulk and accelerates colonic transit, which may relieve constipation.

However, insoluble fiber can sometimes worsen bloating and abdominal discomfort in some IBS patients, especially those with IBS-D (diarrhea-predominant) or IBS-M (mixed type). Clinical guidelines (such as those from the American College of Gastroenterology) recommend soluble fiber over insoluble fiber for IBS, but acknowledge that individual responses vary.

In summary, there is modest scientific evidence supporting the use of sugarcane fiber in some IBS patients, particularly those with constipation, but the overall evidence is limited and not as robust as for soluble fibers.