Soluble fibre has less effect on gut motility than insoluble fibre and is defined by its ability to solubilise in water. Soluble fibre is also not digested in the stomach or small intestine and has a greater role in the prevention and management of lifestyle diseases such as high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes.
Japan was possibly the first country to look at adding fibre to foods and beverages but now this trend has spread to the rest of the world, where the fibre intake is much lower than the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of approximately 30g per day.