Awareness and Knowledge Regarding the Consumption of Dietary Fiber and Its Relation to Self-Reported Health Status in an Adult Arab Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hanan Alfawaz, Nasiruddin Khan, Haya Alhuthayli, Kaiser Wani, Muneerah A. Aljumah, Malak Nawaz Khan Khattak, Saad A. Alghanim and Nasser M. Al-Daghri
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Hanan Alfawaz: Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food Science & Agriculture, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
Nasiruddin Khan: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A’ Sharqiyah University, Ibra 400, Oman
Haya Alhuthayli: Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food Science & Agriculture, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
Kaiser Wani: Biochemistry Department, Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Muneerah A. Aljumah: Almaarefa University, College of Medicine Medical Student, Riyadh 11597, Saudi Arabia
Malak Nawaz Khan Khattak: Biochemistry Department, Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Saad A. Alghanim: Department of Health Administration, Health and Hospital Administration Program, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, Riyadh 11352, Saudi Arabia
Nasser M. Al-Daghri: Biochemistry Department, Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the awareness, knowledge, and habits regarding dietary fiber intake and to analyze its relationship with self-reported health status among Saudi adults. A survey-based study using face-to-face interview was designed, and 1363 apparently healthy adult Saudi males and females participated. Most participants were females (81.2%), aged 25 and above (87.2%), and were educated at least up to the secondary level of education (80.8%). The majority of the participants were aware of the role of fiber-rich foods in health conditions such as obesity (70.5%), cardiovascular diseases (68.9%), and regulation of blood sugar (68.9%), with females significantly having higher nutrition knowledge than males. A disconnect in translating this nutrition knowledge was observed particularly in food choices when eating out, where preferences for white bread (84.4%), fried potatoes (69.9%) and peeled fruits (60.6%) were significantly higher than preferences for cooked vegetables (29.6%) and brown bread (18.1%). The most common reason for this disconnect was due to perception that foods rich in dietary fibers were expensive (72.1%), have less health benefits (56.5%), were not readily available (51.6%), and participants’ disliking of the taste (52.8%). Participants in the highest quartile (Q4) for dietary fiber consumption reported a lower prevalence of constipation (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval of 0.40, 0.28–0.57, p < 0.01), high cholesterol (0.43, 0.27–0.68, p < 0.01) and obesity (0.67, 0.44–0.98, p = 0.03) than participants in the lowest quartile (Q1). Dietary fiber intake appears to be protective against constipation, high cholesterol and obesity in Saudi adults. However, a disparity observed between knowledge and attitude towards intake of dietary fibers could limit its health benefits. Further studies including adolescents should be conducted to impart knowledge on the emotional, cognitive and sensory factors related to food choices in order to minimize the gap between nutrition knowledge and the consumption of healthy high-fiber diets.

Keywords: dietary fiber; nutrition knowledge; fiber and health; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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