Position of the American Dietetic Association: Health implications of dietary fiber

Achieving adequate dietary fiber intake ADA recommends that health professionals: promote food intake patterns consistent with the Food Guide Pyramid (39) that make use of a wide variety of plant foods to achieve adequate fiber intakes in healthy children and adults. Include at least 2 to 3 servings of whole grains as part of the daily 6 to 11 servings of grains (40), 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and legumes at least once or twice a week recognize that diets containing excess bulk may not contain sufficient energy to support normal growth in children recognize that 1 to 2 servings daily of higher fiber foods (eg, legumes, whole grains, cereal brans) or concentrated fiber sources may be necessary to achieve adequate intakes in those persons whose energy needs are low relative to body mass, such as the elderly, hospitalized or ill patients, or those in long-term- care facilities; consider the use of concentrated sources of dietary fiber(9) to treat chronic constipation when a limited variety of food is consumed or the amount of food consumed is inadequate: incorporate new sources of dietary fiber into diet plans for specific diseases only when benefit claims are documented and the overall diet is consistent with the medical nutrition therapy appropriate for the disease: recognize that viscous concentrated fiber sources with documented health benefits do have demonstrated blood cholesterol-lowering effects and can be part of lifestyle that includes a heart-healthy diet and exercise: use a diet pattern for persons with diabetes mellitus that is moderate in fat and contains a wide variety of fiber- containing foods to lower abnormal elevations in postprandial blood glucose levels and promote body weight normalization: use enteral feedings containing dietary fiber to promote normal enterocyte function, but recognize that clinical benefits may be modest.