Evidence-Based Approach to Fiber Supplements andClinicallyMeaningful Health Benefits, Part 1 What to Look for and How to Recommend an Effective Fiber Therapy

Dietary fiber that is intrinsic and intact in fiber-rich foods (eg, fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains) is widely rec-ognized to have beneficial effects onhealthwhen consumed at recommended levels (25 g/d for adultwomen, 38g/d for adult men). Most (90%) of the US population does not consume this level of dietary fiber, averaging only 15 g/d. In an attempt to bridge this ‘‘fiber gap,’ ’ many consumers are turning to fiber supplements, which are typically isolated froma single source. Fiber supplements cannot bepresumed toprovide thehealth benefits that are associatedwith dietary fiber from whole foods. Of the fiber supplements on the market today, only a minority possess the physical charac-teristics that underlie the mechanisms driving clinically mean-ingful healthbenefits. The first part (current issue) of this 2-part series will focus on the 4 main characteristics of fiber sup