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To better understand the public health impact of the National Academy of Sciences' Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for fiber in preschoolers, I analyzed data from the United States Department of Agriculture Continuing Survey of Food Intake in Individuals for 5437 preschoolers and examined sociodemographic predictors of meeting the DRIs. Overall, only 12% of the children met the DRIs.
Older children (age 4 and 5 years) were less likely than younger children, girls were less likely than boys, and children from medium-income families (those earning 186% to 350% of the poverty guidelines, with poverty set at 100%) were least likely to meet the DRIs. Low-income children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children were twice as likely as nonparticipants to meet the DRIs. The public should be educated about the importance of increasing fiber density in the diet. (Am J Public Health. 2006; 96:1538-1541. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.068700)
The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for energy, macronutrients, and fiber from the National Academy of Sciences suggest that Americans aged 2 years and older should consume 14 g of total fiber per 4200 kJ of total energy intake.1 At this level, fiber seems to protect against constipation and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, obesity, and diabetes.2-6
The DRIs are based on total fiber intake, which includes dietary and functional fiber. A more detailed explanation of the distinction between the 2 kinds of fiber can be found elsewhere.7,8 In short, dietary fibers are naturally occurring nondigestible carbohydrates and lignin, and functional fibers are components of foods that can be isolated or extracted with chemical, enzymatic, or aqueous processes.1 Functional fiber intake is difficult to estimate because it is not included in food or nutrient databases and is generally not listed on Nutrition Facts labels. Adults consume an estimated 5 g per day of functional fiber on average. Based on average energy intakes, the National Academy of Sciences recommendation for dietary fiber is 14 g per day (DRI of 19 g less 5 g of functional fiber) for children aged 2 to 3 years and 20 g per day (DRI of 25 g less 5 g of functional fiber) for children aged 4 to 5 years. Previous dietary fiber intake recommendations were much lower,...