#603: Should Dietary Fiber Be Considered Essential? – Andrew Reynolds, PhD
From Sigma Nutrition Radio by Danny Lennon
April 28, 2026 · 59 min
About this episode
Dr. Andrew Reynolds discusses whether dietary fiber should be considered an essential nutrient and its implications for health.
Dietary fiber is widely recognized as an important component of a healthy diet, yet it is not typically classified as an essential nutrient. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Reynolds explores whether that distinction still holds, arguing that the traditional criteria used to define essentiality may be outdated when applied to modern nutrition science. The discussion moves beyond simply acknowledging the benefits of fiber and instead examines whether it meets the foundational requirements of an essential nutrient. This includes considering its physiological roles, the body's inability to synthesize it in sufficient quantities, and whether low intake leads to a meaningful and reversible dysfunction. Drawing on evidence from prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, and mechanistic research, Reynolds outlines the strength of the evidence linking higher fiber intakes to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, and premature mortality. Reynolds presents a compelling case that fiber may play a fundamental role in maintaining normal physiological function and therefore warrants reconsideration within the framework of essential nutrients…
People in this episode
Host: Danny Lennon
Guest: Andrew Reynolds
Topics covered
- dietary fiber
- essential nutrients
- nutrition science
- chronic disease risk
- physiological roles
Keywords
- dietary fiber
- essential nutrient
- chronic disease
- cardiovascular disease
- type 2 diabetes
- colorectal cancer
- mortality risk
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