Day 014 - 20 Jul 94 - Page 46
1 Q. I may not be following the point, Mr. Rampton. I thought
the distinction was introduced because it -----
2
MR. RAMPTON: I had understood that there were studies which
3 suggested, particularly in relation to large bowel cancer
or colon cancer that an advantage might be -----
4 A. On the basis of our current evidence that there are
differences in the actual functions. But I would emphasis
5 that at the moment my understanding is that it is still,
our knowledge is still very tentative on these topics.
6
Q. That I understand. I did hope I put my question in a
7 tentative way; I changed the word "are" to "may be", for
example. But in so far as there is any evidence to
8 suggest dietary benefit or the protective agency for fibre
in the diet, is there also evidence to suggest that it may
9 be that the insoluble fibres are, perhaps, more effective
than the soluble ones?
10 A. Yes, I would accept that.
11 Q. That is all I was asking.
12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Yes, thank you.
13 MR. RAMPTON: Can you turn then, please, to paragraph 4.4 on
page 63. You should have it open. 4.4.1: "NSP-rich
14 foods are generally less energy dense, more bulky, and may
induce greater satiety than NSP-free foods. It has been
15 proposed that cell wall polysaccharides may be a barrier
to consumption of energy and useful in the prevention and
16 treatment of obesity". Is that your understanding of the
learning at this particular time?
17 A. Yes, again that is fair comment.
18 Q. "In single meal studies, with apples and oranges, it has
been shown that removing NSP reduces satiety and increases
19 post-prandial glucose and insulin levels. Studies of free
choice high and low NSP diets have not provided consistent
20 results. When isolated polysaccharides such as guar gum
are added to controlled diets there is evidence of an
21 effect on appetite but longer-term studies show that
adaption takes place. However, the amount of NSP in a
22 diet is characteristic of a type of diet rather than a
specific nutrient to affect appetite. Low NSP diets tend
23 to be high in fat and sugar and it is difficult to ascribe
to NSP per se an effect on food intake in humans". Do you
24 have a comment to make about that?
A. Again I think that is a fair representation of our
25 current state of knowledge.
26 Q. Could one understand that as being commentary, not so much
upon the agency of particular substances in a diet, but
27 upon social conditions, such that somebody who eats little
NSP may well be somebody who eats a lot of fat?
28 A. I see what you mean. Yes, I think that is what they
are getting at here.
29
Q. Thank you. Can we go over to 4.5 on page 65? Large
30 intestine, 4.5.1: "In population studies 'dietary fibre'
intakes have been related to the prevalence of
