Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber: What’s the Difference?

Because the health benefits of fiber are so widespread, it’s one of the most talked about nutrients.

Dietary fiber is comprised of carbohydrates that cannot be digested by humans, as well as lignin, which is a compound that forms the cell wall of plant cells.

Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber

Up until very recently, fiber was divided into two broad categories- soluble and insoluble, the classification being based on whether or not it dissolves in water.

Solubility, or the ability to disperse in water, was originally thought to predict fibers’ physiologic effects. Research revealed this was not always the case. However, the terms soluble and insoluble fiber are still used for labeling purposes by the FDA, and are the most widely used terms by nutritionists and dietitians.

Researchers are now distinguishing between fibers that exist in whole foods (dietary fiber) and fibers that are extracted or manufactured (functional fiber).

Dietary fiber includes materials derived from plants and well as animals (i.e. chitin, which forms the shells of insects and crustaceans, though people don’t generally eat lobster shells). Functional fiber can be both man-made (i.e. fructooligosaccharides and polydextrose, which are used as food additives) and extracted from natural sources, like the chitin from crustaceans, which is found in nutritional supplements.

Although the different ways fiber is classified is interesting, from a health standpoint, it doesn’t really matter, as the health benefits of a high fiber diet are independent of the way a scientist groups them.

What Are Some Of The Health Benefits Of Fiber?

• Cholesterol Lowering Effects: Viscous fiber is a fiber that combines with water to form a gel in the stomach. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that intake of viscous fiber lowers both total and LDL (traditionally thought of as the “bad” cholesterol).¹ The foods used in these studies include beans, peas and lentils.
• Heart Disease Reduction: High intakes of fiber-rich foods are strongly correlated with lower incidence of both number of heart attacks and deaths from heart disease.
• Blood Sugar Effects: Since viscous fibers form a gel in the stomach, when they are added to meals, the result is a slowing of nutrient absorption into the blood stream, which effectively lowers the amount of insulin needed to clear the sugar from the bloodstream and has favorable effects on blood sugar and insulin resistance. This is especially important for diabetics but can also eliminate the post-meal hunger that can result from a dip in blood sugar after consumption of a large amount of carbohydrates.
• Treating and Preventing Constipation: As fiber is not absorbed through the GI tract, fiber-rich foods add to stool bulk and decrease the amount of time needed for waste to pass through the digestive system. Most of the research supporting this benefit has been done using fruit, vegetables and wheat bran.²
• Weight Control: Viscous fiber’s ability to increase feelings of fullness likely result from the gel it forms in the stomach, making it easier to eat fewer calories. Additionally, fiber has fewer calories than other carbohydrates.³ Studies show that people who consume fiber-rich foods are more likely to maintain a healthy weight than those who don’t. However, the role of fiber alone as a weight management tool has not been clearly established.

What Are The Best Sources Of Fiber?

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are all good sources of fiber. Supplemental fiber is a great, convenient way to up daily fiber intake, especially for those who are restricting calories or eat high amounts of processed food, which is essentially always stripped of fiber.
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine published recommended daily fiber intakes in 2001, and those recommendations can be found here: IOM Recommended Fiber Intake.

For the vast majority of people, however, more fiber is probably better (though always check with your doctor before making dietary changes). Since abrupt increases in fiber can cause gas, bloating and abdominal pain, it is wise to increase fiber intake slowly.

If you decide to take fiber supplements, I recommend Vitafusion Fiber Gummies (2 gummies provide 5 grams of soluble fiber and 10 calories) or psyllium husk (affiliate link), which is a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber.
Hope this clears up any fiber confusion you may have had – feel free to leave a question or comment.