Optimizing Dietary Fiber Nutritional
Strategies Considering the Gut Microbiome

Abstract

Adequate dietary fiber intake from plant foods is critical for the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), yet intake across industrialized populations remains below established recommendations.

This shortfall has increased reliance on fiber-containing processed foods and supplements, although their effectiveness relative to whole-plant sources is less consistently demonstrated. In this presentation, I evaluate nutritional strategies to optimize fiber intake, spanning whole-plant foods, fiber-enriched foods, and isolated fiber supplements. Drawing on evidence from our own human intervention trials, I examine how distinct fiber types influence the composition and function of the gut microbiome, as well as immunometabolic risk factors relevant to NCDs.

Particular attention is given to the structural and physicochemical properties of fiber, which condition microbial utilization and physiological responses in the host. I further consider plausible mechanisms through which fiber–microbiome interactions may relate to changes in NCD risk markers.

Building on this evidence from human intervention studies, I critically discuss the strengths and limitations of these strategies and propose a framework for the more effective and systematic integration of fiber into nutrition and food science.