NANP Board Practice Exam

What type of fiber is intact in plants?

1. Cellulose

2. Dietary fiber

3. Functional fiber

4. Hemicellulose

The correct answer is: Dietary fiber

Dietary fiber is a term that encompasses a variety of plant components that are not digested by human enzymes. This type of fiber is found in whole plant foods and represents a broad category including both soluble and insoluble fibers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin, all of which contribute to health benefits. When you think of dietary fiber, it refers to the complete package of fibers that retains its integrity in plants and has beneficial effects on health, including promoting gut health and regulating digestion. While cellulose and hemicellulose are specific types of dietary fibers, they do not capture the entire range of fiber types relevant to human health. Functional fiber, on the other hand, refers to isolated, nondigestible carbohydrates that have beneficial effects in humans, but these are not necessarily "intact" fibers in their natural plant form. Therefore, dietary fiber is the most appropriate term here, as it encapsulates the range of intact fibers that contribute to the diet from plants.