The
intake of dietary
fiber among people living in Western countries remains low, and according to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), it
averages 17 g per day in the United States.24 Although patients with diabetes are advised to increase their
intake of dietary
fiber, in the NHANES study, their
average daily intake was found to be only 16 g. 24 Why the
intake of dietary
fiber in patients with diabetes remains low — despite its well - documented effect of lowering plasma cholesterol concentrations — remains unexplained.