Fiber Intake Trends

Americans are still not getting enough fiber. Could this be that high fiber products don't have the right appeal?

Americans are still not getting enough fiber in their diet, according to a recent study from the Medical University of South Carolina. The study, published in a recent issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, found that daily fiber intake has not progressed toward national goals during the past decade.

The recommended Adequate Intake for dietary fiber for adults is 25 to 38 g/day (14 g/1,000 kcal/day – or approximately 4 bowls of high fiber cereal). But researchers found that mean daily dietary fiber intake for 1999-2000 was 15.6 g/day, for 2001-2002 intake was 16.1g/day, for 2003-2004 intake was 15.5 g/day, for 2005-2006 intake was 15.8 g/day, and for 2007-2008 intake was 15.9 g/day – all numbers well below recommendations.

There were some notable differences in fiber intake according to health and social factors. For example, participants with obesity (body mass index of 30) consistently reported lower fiber intake than did individuals with normal weight or overweight (14.6 to 15.4 g/day and 15.6 to 16.8 g/day, respectively). Mexican Americans had significantly higher intake in 1999-2000 than non- Hispanic whites (18.0 vs 16.1g/day), but Mexican Americans’ intake did not increase over time (17.7 g/day in 2007-2008). Non-Hispanic blacks had fiber intake of 12.5 g/day at baseline that increased modestly to 13.1 g/day by 2007-2008.

In terms of food categories accounting for fiber intake, most consumers derived their fiber from grains (43.7%), followed by vegetables (20.8%), fruits (13%) and beans and legumes (10.1%) – which is consistent with fiber sources in the U.S. food supply as tracked by the USDA. Mexican Americans get more fiber from beans than other groups.

Study author Dr. Dana King says that there are several possible explanations for why fiber consumption has not increased. One very important explanation is the perception that fiber is not very palatable and might not taste good. Another is that consumers don’t appreciate or understand the benefits of fiber – which include controlling blood sugar level, lower cholesterol and aiding in weight loss. Additionally, large intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages may be displacing the consumption of other healthier fiber-containing foods in the diet. Yet another explanation is the shift away from home-cooked meals and toward eating more restaurant meals.

“Restaurant meals are often higher in fat and lower in fiber,” says King. “You have to be pretty