
Sigma Nutrition Radio
#603: Should Dietary Fiber Be Considered Essential? – Andrew Reynolds, PhD
New
28 Apr 2026 · 59 min
Nutrition basics
Play this episode
About this episode
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explores whether that distinction still holds, arguing that the traditional criteria used to define essentiality may be outdated when applied to modern nutrition science.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 essent