Soluble Fiber and Energy Regulation

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Abstract
Americans are becoming fatter. Recent longitudinal data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey1 shows that the median body mass index of adult men and women increased from 25.3 to 26.3 kg/m2 between the periods 1960–1962 and 1988–1991, corresponding to a body weight gain of 8 lb. While it is clear that the immediate underlying cause of this increase can be traced to an energy intake greater than energy expenditure, the underlying causes of the imbalance remain unclear. Has metabolizable energy intake increased, or has energy expenditure fallen, or has a combination of these two events occurred? If metabolizable energy intake has increased, why has this happened? In this brief review we focus on the potential role of soluble fiber in influencing energy intake and hence body weight regulation, and on some experimental considerations for future investigational studies in this area.