Abstract
This study assessed the dietary fiber intake for the U.S. population using data from the 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS). intake of dietary fiber has been studied before, but the 87-88 NFCS was the first large-scale survey to include dietary fiber as one of the elements in the database. Specific parameters include sex, age, race, region, urbanization, education level, income level, special diet status, meals and food groups. Fiber intake of meals from home compared to meals away from home was looked at as well. Males had an average fiber intake of 14.5 grams and women ate 10.8 grams of fiber. These numbers are similar to previous results. Males ate more fiber than women, but females had a more fiber-dense diet. Age, income level, and amount of education all had an effect on dietary fiber consumption. Food considered to be away from home did not contribute much to fiber intake. The meal supper did not follow the same fiber consumption patterns compared to other meals. Information obtained from this study can be used to assess where Americans are currently in regards to fiber intake. Future researchers might use these results as a baseline to gauge how much Americans have changed their fiber consumption habits. This information also could be used in the development of guidelines and education programs that would be practical for fiber intake.
Economopoulos, Christine Katherine (1993). Dietary fiber consumption by the U.S. population. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1993 -THESIS -E18.