This study had a longitudinal, pre-post, among-groups design. The protocol of the parent study was 52 days in length and divided into the following segments: a 14-day baseline segment, a 6-day incremental dosing segment, an 18-day steady dose 1 segment, and a 14-day steady dose 2 segment (Figure 1). During the incremental dosing segment, the amount of fiber administered was gradually increased by one-third every two days to the total of 16 g of total fiber per day. Participants consumed 16 g of total fiber per day during the steady dose 1 and steady dose 2 segments unless a subject required a reduction in the amount of dietary fiber in the supplement (as explained above). During the steady dose 2 segment, the same type of data was collected as during the baseline segment. In determining the length of the segments of the parent study, past research and subject burden were considered. In a previous study, clinical effects from dietary fibers were seen in approximately two weeks of taking a steady dose of fiber. Advancing the amounts of dietary fiber over six days seemed to promote tolerance of any flatus that occurred (Bliss et al., 2001). Past experience informed suitable lengths of data collection for planned analyses and overall participation that promoted completion of the study by subjects.