Dietary fibre, diabetes and obesity

Abstract

Fibre was long considered uniteresting from a nutritional point of view, However, the intriguing “fibre hypothesis” by Burkitt and Trowell has kindled a tremendous interest in the clinical importance of fibre. The hypothesis postulates that several disorders common to the affluent society, such as diabetes and obesity, are caused by the low fibre content in the food. Although recent research has documented a number of important effects of fibre in man, very little evidence exists showing the importance of a low fibre intake for the development of diabetes and obesity. It is clear, however, that certain fibres may be useful for the management of both these conditions.