High-fibre diet may not protect against intestinal disease
People who adhere to high-fibre diet plans are unlikely to gain protection against a disease of the large intestine called diverticulitis, scientists say.The dietary regime has long been thought to protect against the disease, which causes pouches to develop in the wall of the bowel.
But research conducted among more than 2,000 people in the US has now found that those with a high-fibre diet were no less likely to have diverticulitis than those with a low-fibre diet.
"In fact, the study found those with the lowest fibre intake were 30 per cent less likely to develop diverticula than those with the highest fibre intake," revealed Dr Anne Peery, a gastroenterology and hepatology fellow at the University of North Carolina in the US.
She added: "Despite the significant morbidity and mortality of symptomatic diverticulosis, it looks like we may have been wrong, for decades, about why diverticula actually form."
Experts still recommend a high-fibre diet for overall health, however, with NHS experts advising people to consume at least 18g per day.
Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, lentils and beans.
