Protective role of wheat bran fiber: preclinical data.

Although animal data relating to the effects of dietary fiber on experimentally induced colon tumors are not easily summarized, it appears that wheat bran fiber protects against colon cancer. In a recent direct comparison, an ad libitum diet containing wheat bran fiber led to a 40% lower incidence of colon tumors, compared with a cellulose-containing diet. In addition, the greater protective effect of wheat bran fiber as compared with the cellulose was shown in rats fed 10% or 20% energy-restricted diets containing wheat bran or cellulose.