To summarize, this communication seeks to show that the
contribution of cereals to the intake of DF and antioxidants, and
hence to their potential health effects, may be underestimated for
methodological reasons. Underestimation occurs in cereals and
other plant foods but it is more appreciable in cereals because they
have specific characteristics: important amount of RS and a major AC
associated with insoluble residues of extraction. There is a need to
establish a suitable approach and to validate analytical methods for
determining DF and AC in whole diets. This could help to gain
a better understanding of the results of nutritional and epidemiological