Dietary fiber in childhood

Abstract

Dietary fiber (DF) has important health benefits in childhood, especially in promoting normal laxation. Studies also suggest that DF in childhood may be useful in preventing and treating obesity and also in lowering blood cholesterol levels, both of which may help reduce the risk of future cardiovascular disease. In adults, a high-fiber, low-fat diet has been linked to reduced rates of colon and other human cancers, and although it seems highly likely that this benefit would be even greater if this regimen had been started in childhood, epidemiologic and experimental confirmation is currently lacking. Children's typical DF consumption may not be adequate to maintain good health and prevent disease. Therefore, it would be prudent to recommend that children and adolescents increase DF intake by increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and other grain products. Several guidelines recommend quantitative ranges of DF intake for children. These include recommendations by the National Academy of Sciences, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) food label guide, and the Age+5 guideline. The goal is to achieve a DF intake that is safe even for children and adolescents with marginal intake of vitamins and minerals, provides sufficient DF for normal laxation, and reduces the risk of future chronic diseases, such as coronary artery disease. Current estimates of DF intake are much lower than recommended levels for a large proportion of the US pediatric population. This article reviews these data.