CONSUMPTION OF DIETARY FIBER IN RURAL MEXICO

The average per capita intake of dietary fibre and the relative contribution of different foods to its intake in the Mexican rural population was studied. Food consumption data were obtained from the National Nutrition Surveys of 1979 (21,248 families in 219 rural Mexican communities), and from a similar survey of the same communities in 1989 (20,759 families). Average per capita intake of total dietary fibre (TDF) ranged from 19.8 to 34.0 g/d (average 27.2 +/- 3.3) in 1979 and from 17.5 to 27.1 g/d (average 22.5 +/- 2.2) in 1989. About 13% of TDF in both surveys was contributed by soluble dietary fibre. Of the 19 regions of the country, 18 exhibited a significant reduction in TDF intake from 1979 to 1989 (p < 0.001). With the exception of two regions on the northern border, maize was the major single source of TDF (from 31 to 74% of TDF). The implication of these observations on disease patterns needs to be studied.