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J. E. VANDERVEEN, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 200 "C" Street, Washington, DC 20204

The long-term health benefits of the consumption of so-called prudent diets composed of foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol and high in fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain fiber have been recognized by experts qualified by scientific training and experience. This recognition is based on extensive epidemiological data as well as data from clinical trials and experimental research. There is also evidence that prudent diets containing certain foods, which are high in soluble fiber, can lower the levels of serum LDL-cholesterol, which is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. There also has been support for the hypothesis that prudent diets containing certain foods high in insoluble fiber may lower the risk of some forms of cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Admin. has approved health claims for soluble fibers and fiber containing foods that are consistent with the scientific evidence. This recognition has fostered not only the addition of these substances as ingredients to formulated foods but has also has prompted the isolation and addition of substances from nontraditional sources which have similar properties to that of the fibers in commonly consumed plants. This raises the question about the level of scientific evidence that should be required to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of these non-traditional substances. Also, there is the question of the potential importance of maintaining a balance between the types of fiber found naturally in the so-called prudent diet. These questions need to be considered in the deliberation of establishing a broader definition for the term dietary fiber in a regulatory context.