ABSTRACT
The importance of dietary fiber components in the diet has been recognized for many years but has received increased attention in the past 12 to 15 years. Study of the role of dietary fiber in health and disease was stimulated by the work of Burkitt (1971, 1973a,b) and Painter et al. (1972). These and other investigators hypothesized that the relatively low level of plant fiber in the diets of Western societies predisposed these populations to disease and disorders which differ from those in less developed regions. Interest in this hypothesis has led to a number of laboratory, clinical, and epidemiological studies, suggestions for health benefits of dietary fiber, development of new food products and diets, calls for guidelines on the fiber content and labeling of food products, and revision of nutritional recommendations. However, dietary fiber intake is only one aspect that must be considered in making dietary recommendations and is difficult to address in isolation from the total diet.
