JEDDAH, 7 June 2003 — Studies highlight that Arabs should eat more fiber, as the intake of fiber-rich foods in most Arab countries is alarmingly low, according to an Arab nutrition specialist.
“Arabs throughout the Gulf are increasingly consuming processed foods that are more refined and therefore low in fiber. Since dietary fiber is only found in the carbohydrate portion of the diet, it is widely accepted that the level of dietary fiber in the Arab diet is decreasing, thereby putting the Arab population at increased risk from dietary-related diseases such as colon cancer, obesity and heart diseases,” says Dr. Abdul Rahman Musaiger, founder of the Arab Nutrition Center.
Quoting a study, he said the average daily consumption of fiber among Saudi adults was just 13 gm per day. This and other studies show that Arabs throughout the Gulf are facing an increased risk of chronic disease due to the low levels of fiber in their diet. Some 23 to 59 percent of adults do not consume fresh fruit on a daily basis, and between 19 and 50 percent do not consume any vegetables. A recent international study in Europe reveals that people who eat the most fiber have 25 percent less risk of developing cancer, compared to those with the lowest fiber intake.
The study, European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), is the biggest and most wide-ranging study on diet and health ever done in Europe. Half a million participants from 10 different countries across Europe who ate widely differing diets took part.
A second study, the US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLOC) Screening Trial, further supports the role of fiber in reducing the risk of colon cancer. High intakes of dietary fiber were associated with a lower risk of colorectal adenoma (a precursor of colon cancer).
“These studies confirm that dietary fiber has a key role to play in reducing the risk of colon cancer,” said Musaiger. “Eating a diet rich in plant foods and especially high fiber cereals, fruit and vegetables, probably remains the best option for reducing the risk of colon cancer.”
