PROPOSAL FOR RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF DIETARY FIBER INTAKE IN JAPAN

In this report, we attempt to propose a recommended level of dietary f iber (DF) for the Japanese from several epidemiological reports. The a uthors previously investigated the daily DF intake in 50 patients with colon polyp, 33 patients with colon diverticulosis, 45 patients with colorectal cancer, and two groups 84 and 45 control subjects; the valu es obtained were 18.2, 17.4, 14.9, and 21.1 and 19.9 g, respectively. In another study, of the 5 regions id Japan, in only one, Aomori, wher e the rate of the colon diverticulosis detection was the lowest, did t he DF intake exceed 20 g. Furthermore, in Japan the incidence of color ectal cancer showed a marked increase after 1955. It was assumed that the period between the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and death was 15 years, and that the DF intakes at this time (before 1940) to had cont ributed to the development of the disease. However unfortunately daily DF intake before 1940 in Japan were unknown, and we have only data 25 .0 g in 1946. Thus, it is proposed that the recommended level for dail y DF intake in Japanese be set at about 20-25 g, i.e. 10 g per 1,000 k cal.