[Is there a correlation of dietary fiber to the calculation of calorific value of food? Comparison of the experimental determination and the calculated metabolizable energy of 16 diets with different fiber content].

The metabolizable energy (ME) of 16 diets containing various amounts and sources of dietary fibre was calculated by different energy assessment procedures and determined experimentally in balance studies in humans. ME was calculated by the German procedure (section 35 LMBG; 4/9/4) and by the British procedure (4/9/3.75). In addition, both calculation procedures were modified to take into account the energy value of dietary fibre. Dietary fibre was multiplied by an energy conversion factor of 1 or 2 kcal/g, respectively. The best agreement between measured and calculated ME was obtained when a conversion factor of 1 kcal/g fibre (German procedure) or of 2 kcal/g (British procedure) was used.