Fibre!

Question 1

What is dietary fibre?

Answer 1

• total dietary fibre (TDF) = Soluble dietary fibre (SDF) - insoluble dietary fibre (IDF)

Question 2

beneficial physiological affects of dietary fibre

Answer 2

Dietary fibres promote beneficial physiological effects including laxation, and/or blood cholesterol attenuation and/or blood glucose attenuation

Question 3

definition of dietary fibre

Answer 3

• found naturally in plants and resistant to digestion and absorption in human GIT
• Has physiological benefits
• include polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, lignin and associated plant substances

Question 4

What does dietary fibre consist of?

Answer 4

1. carbohydrates with a DP of 3 or more that naturally occur in foods of plant origin and that are not digested and absorbed by the small intestine; and
2. accepted novel fibres.

Question 5

What are novel fibres?

Answer 5

Ingredients manufactured to be sources of dietary fibre and consist of carbohydrates with a DP of 3 or more that are not digested and absorbed by the small intestine. They are synthetically produced or are obtained from natural sources which have no history of safe use as dietary fibre or which have been processed so as to modify the properties of the fibre contained therein. Accepted novel fibres have at least one physiological effect demonstrated by generally accepted scientific evidence.

Question 6

When can novel fibre be included on a label?

Answer 6

The physiological efficiency must be approved in order to be claimed on label.
* If NO then not demonstrated so can therefore not include on label, can include in food but cannot claim on label

Question 7

Food Sources of Dietary Fiber?

Answer 7

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Whole grain cereal
• pulses
• oilseed
• Cereal Bran

Question 8

Why is dietary fiber important in human nutrition?

Answer 8

• Regularity & Gut health
• Healthy glycemic index levels
• Heart health
• Cancer prevention
• Diabetes management

Question 9

Recommended Dietary Fiber Intake

Answer 9

• American Dietetic Association : 20 – 35 g/day
• National Cancer Society : > 25 g/day American
• Diabetes Society : 30 – 40 g/day

Question 10

Current Average North American Consumption

Answer 10

~ 18g/day

Question 11

Health Canada rules for fibre claims

Answer 11

• In Canada, the amount of dietary fibre is one of the 13 core nutrients that must be declared in the Nutrition Facts table.
• The amount of both “soluble” and “insoluble” fibre may be separately declared as additional information.
• The energy value of 2 kcal (8 kJ)/g must be included in the caloric declaration.
• The nutrient content claims “source of fibre”, “high source of fibre”, and “very high source of fibre” can be made for foods containing respectively a minimum of 2, 4, or 6 grams of dietary fibre per serving.