Klurfeld D M
J Am Diet Assoc. 1987 Sep;87(9):1172-7.
The most consistent benefit of consumption of adequate dietary fiber is regular laxation; this effect alone justifies inclusion of fiber in the diet, in view of the enormous expenditure on drugs for digestive diseases. Dietary fiber has proved effective in decreasing symptoms of diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, and hemorrhoids in a limited number of small clinical studies. Fiber may also reduce the incidence of gallstone formation. Fiber is currently being touted as protection against colon cancer. However, the epidemiological and experimental data do not provide convincing evidence that fiber alone is a major determinant of risk for colon cancer. Furthermore, the data from international comparisons indicating that fiber is protective against colon cancer can be used in a similar simplistic manner to suggest that fiber may be a risk factor for stomach cancer. This should not dissuade individuals from obtaining adequate fiber from a wide variety of foods but should caution them against consumption of excessive amounts of fiber from a single source or from dietary supplements.
摄入足够膳食纤维最一致的益处是规律排便；鉴于用于治疗消化系统疾病的药物费用高昂，仅这一作用就足以证明在饮食中加入膳食纤维是合理的。在少数小型临床研究中，膳食纤维已被证明能有效减轻憩室病、克罗恩病和痔疮的症状。膳食纤维还可能降低胆结石形成的发生率。目前，膳食纤维被吹捧为预防结肠癌的物质。然而，流行病学和实验数据并未提供令人信服的证据表明，仅膳食纤维就是结肠癌风险的主要决定因素。此外，国际比较数据表明膳食纤维对结肠癌有保护作用，但也可以用类似的简单方式表明，膳食纤维可能是胃癌的一个风险因素。这不应劝阻人们从多种食物中获取足够的膳食纤维，但应提醒他们避免从单一来源或膳食补充剂中过量摄入膳食纤维。
