Should we eat more fibre?

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Debate exists regarding the role of dietary fibre in maintaining health and whether a standard fibre intake should be recommended in the UK.
• Numerous challenges affect studies on fibre's role in disease, including epidemiological study limitations and inconsistencies in defining and analyzing dietary fibre.
• While fibre's effect on faecal bulking is well-established, supporting its use in treating diverticular disease and constipation, evidence for benefits in colon cancer and ischaemic heart disease is less convincing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the evidence for and against recommending a standard dietary fibre intake in the UK.
• To evaluate the scientific basis for current dietary fibre recommendations.
• To discuss the implications of different fibre types and amounts for gastrointestinal health.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of epidemiological and experimental studies on dietary fibre.
• Analysis of existing data on fibre's effects on faecal bulking, diverticular disease, constipation, colon cancer, and ischaemic heart disease.
• Consideration of challenges in dietary fibre research, including study design and analytical methods.

Main Results:

• Dietary fibre is experimentally verified to aid faecal bulking, supporting its use for diverticular disease and constipation.
• Evidence for beneficial effects of dietary fibre on colon cancer and ischaemic heart disease is less convincing.
• Few harmful effects of fibre have been documented, though its impact on mineral balance requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Recommending higher dietary fibre intakes in the UK is suggested as a favourable guideline.
• The type of fibre recommended should be based on emerging evidence of its mode of action in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Consideration of fibre intake amounts relative to other countries and historical UK intakes is important for developing effective guidelines.