A definition for dietary fibre

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Plant Biology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Current definitions of dietary fibre are outdated.
• Recent advances in plant cell-wall science and nutrition necessitate a re-evaluation.
• Existing classifications do not fully capture the complexity of dietary fibre.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a new, physiologically based definition for dietary fibre.
• To establish a classification system for dietary fibre based on its diverse properties.
• To re-evaluate the classification of dietary fibre within nutrient groups.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature in human nutrition, plant cell-wall science, and animal nutrition.
• Development of a physiologically based framework for defining dietary fibre.
• Proposal of a classification system within the defined framework.

Main Results:

• A new physiologically based definition and classification system for dietary fibre is proposed.
• The study highlights that not all dietary fibre compounds are chemically carbohydrates.
• The proposed system identifies gaps in current knowledge and areas for future research.

Conclusions:

• Dietary fibre should be defined based on physiological function rather than solely chemical composition.
• A revised classification is needed, potentially removing dietary fibre from the carbohydrate group.
• Further research is required to fully understand and categorize dietary fibre components.