Learn how dietary fiber champions gut health, potentially lowers bowel disorder and colon cancer risks, and why fruits and grains are key.
Dietary fiber is highly beneficial, and experts consider individuals who consume adequate amounts of it to be less susceptible to bowel disorders and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, what are the consequences of consuming too little of this fiber? A recent study published in The Lancet explores this question.
The initial research, conducted by researchers utilizing various assessment methods, involved comparing the dietary fiber intake of 33,971 participants who did not suffer from any form of bowel disease (based on a disease incidence analysis) with 3,591 individuals diagnosed with a single additional inflammatory bowel disease.
The results showed a significant association between the likelihood of developing the disease and consuming larger amounts of dietary fiber compared to those with lower fiber intake. The study also indicated that consuming approximately 30.6 grams of dietary fiber per day reduces the risk of developing bowel disorders by 27% compared to individuals who consume less than 15.4 grams daily. It’s worth noting that dietary fiber is more abundant in foods like fruits and grains.
Notably, this benefit was observed in cases of both simple and complex bowel disorders, albeit to a lesser extent. Researchers suggest that consuming significant amounts of fiber reduces the risk of disease by 30% in the lower areas of the colon (distal) but highlights a stronger benefit for those with rectal diseases.
In the second study, which involved two global researchers, the dietary fiber intake of over 500,000 participants aged between 25 and 70 years was examined.
During this research, 1,065 cases of colon cancer were identified. The risk of developing the disease decreased with increased dietary fiber intake. The risk of colon cancer for individuals consuming more than 31.9 grams of dietary fiber per day was 25% lower than for those consuming less than 12.6 grams of dietary fiber daily.
Notably, the greatest benefit in preventing disease was observed in the descending and sigmoid regions, although it was less impactful on the rectal area.
This research highlights the significant impact of healthy dietary fiber types.
Researchers emphasize that consuming large amounts of dietary fiber protects against tumors in the lower regions of the colon and the colon itself.
The researchers also point out that increasing dietary fiber intake offers benefits even when consuming smaller amounts, which can positively affect the reduction of colon diseases.
